Vitiligo is a skin depigmentation disorder caused by the autoimmune destruction of cutaneous melanocytes. Several ocular abnormalities, including uveitis, dry eye, glaucoma and retinal diseases, have been documented in patients with vitiligo. A recent study investigated the association of ocular abnormalities with vitiligo. 

Studies examining the association between ocular abnormalities and vitiligo were extracted from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane databases from inception to December 10, 2020; with the exclusion of studies enrolling patients with Sjogren’s syndrome or Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome. 

The Schirmer test, tear film break-up time (TBUT) and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) of vitiligo patients compared to the controls were considered to be the primary outcomes. 

The results were as follows:

• The meta-analysis of 16 case-control studies demonstrated patients with vitiligo have significantly lower Schirmer test values, shorter TBUTs, higher OSDIsand thinner subfoveal choroidal thicknesses.
• Differences in the prevalence of glaucoma and the level of intraocular pressure were non-significant. 

Thus an association between dry eye and thinner subfoveal choroidal thickness in patients with vitiligo was documented by this study. 

Dermatologists must consider these possible comorbidities and refer such patients to ophthalmologists for further management.

Source: Ma SH, Wu PC, Chang JY, et al. Ocular abnormalities in patients with vitiligo: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Dermatology. 2022 Apr 4:1-10.