Ophthalmologic Manifestations in Psoriasis: A Comparative Case-Control Study

Background Psoriasis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease with increased risk of several comorbidities, of which eye-related complications have been recently noticed. Aims Given the current ambiguity and contradictory findings regarding this comorbidity, the objective of this study is to compare the prevalence of ocular manifestations in individuals with psoriasis in comparison to those without the condition. Methods A case-control study was performed on 116 subjects with psoriasis and 116 age- and sex-matched controls. Comparisons were made between the two groups to assess differences in the rates of various eye disorders and their associated factors using descriptive statistics and logistic regression modeling. Results The ophthalmic findings were 82.8% in psoriatic cases compared with 67% in controls (p = 0.002). Meibomian gland dysfunction (73.28% vs. 50.86%, p < 0.001) and blepharitis (23.28% vs 8.62%, p = 0.009) were the most differentially distributed eye diseases. Ocular manifestations were also independently associated with age, comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia), and outdoor occupations. Among psoriatic patients, those receiving systemic treatment showed higher rates of eye diseases (95.1% vs. 76.0%, p = 0.009), with most presentations were observed in patients were treated with retinoid and cyclosporine. After consideration of confounding factors, the chance of ocular disease in individuals with psoriasis was estimated to be 5.77-fold higher than in controls (p = 0.001). No association was found between psoriasis and cataract, uveitis, or corneal disease. Conclusion These findings highlight the importance of ophthalmological examinations in psoriatic patients for preventative care and modification of the treatment plan.