Structural features of eyelid connective tissue in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To study the connective tissue (CT) structure of upper eyelid skin of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-seven patients aged 47-91 expecting blepharoplasty formed 3 groups: group 1 [16 subjects without POAG, median age 55 years (interquartile range 54-55.5)], group 2 [12 subjects without POAG, median age 73 (72-76.5)], and group 3 [(19 subjects with POAG, median age 74 (70-80.5)]. Age differences between groups 1 and 2 and groups 1 and 3 are significant (p < 0.05). Thermodynamic parameters of skin samples taken during blepharoplasty: Endothermic peak ([Formula: see text], °C) and denaturation enthalpy ([Formula: see text], J/g of dry weight) were determined using differential scanning calorimetry.

RESULTS: [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in groups 1-3 were, respectively, 8.41 (7.42-10.25) and 66.55 (59.9-66.7); 7.10 (5.76-10.17) and 67.35 (67.0-68.03); 11.40 (9.0-14.9) and 67.70 (67.05-68.45). [Formula: see text] differences between groups 1 and 2 are significant (p < 0.05), and Spearman's correlation between the age and [Formula: see text] is direct, medium (R = 0.638) and significant. [Formula: see text] in group 3 is significantly higher than in group 2. [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in patients without POAG (groups 1 and 2) and those with POAG (group 3) are, respectively, 7.79 (6.9-10.17) and 66.6 (61.2-67,3); 11.40 (9.0-14.9); 67.7 (67.05-68.45); the respective differences are significant.

CONCLUSION: Patients without POAG show a significant increase in [Formula: see text] with age, while [Formula: see text] slightly decreases. In POAG, [Formula: see text] is significantly higher and [Formula: see text] tends to grow, which may indicate structural changes in eyelid CT (collagen accumulation and cross-linking level rise). Since the upper lid is unaffected by increasing IOP directly, the changes may be viewed as manifestations of systemic CT pathology.