• Anat Galor, Leslie Small, William Feuer, Roy C Levitt, Konstantinos D Sarantopoulos, and Gil Yosipovitch.
• Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center, Miami, Florida (Dr Galor); Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida (Dr Galor, Dr Small, Mr Feuer); and Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine and Pain Management (Dr Levitt, Dr Sarantopoulos), John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics (Dr Levitt), John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics (Dr Levitt), and Department of Dermatology and Miami Itch Center (Dr Yosipovitch), University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
• Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 2017 Aug 1; 115: T5.

PurposeTo evaluate associations between sensations of ocular itch and dry eye (DE) symptoms, including ocular pain, and DE signs.MethodsA cross-sectional study of 324 patients seen in the Miami Veterans Affairs eye clinic was performed. The evaluation consisted of questionnaires regarding ocular itch, DE symptoms, descriptors of neuropathic-like ocular pain (NOP), and evoked pain sensitivity testing on the forehead and forearm, followed by a comprehensive ocular surface examination including corneal mechanical sensitivity testing. Analyses were performed to examine for differences between those with and without subjective complaints of ocular itch.ResultsThe mean age was 62 years with 92% being male. Symptoms of DE and NOP were more frequent in patients with moderate-severe ocular itch compared to those with no or mild ocular itch symptoms. With the exception of ocular surface inflammation (abnormal matrix metalloproteinase 9 testing) which was less common in those with moderate-severe ocular itch symptoms, DE signs were not related to ocular itch. Individuals with moderate-severe ocular itch also demonstrated greater sensitivity to evoked pain on the forearm and had higher non-ocular pain, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorders scores, compared to those with no or mild itch symptoms.ConclusionsSubjects with moderate-severe ocular itch symptoms have more severe symptoms of DE, NOP, non-ocular pain and demonstrate abnormal somatosensory testing in the form of increased sensitivity to evoked pain at a site remote from the eye, consistent with generalized hypersensitivity.

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