Ophthalmic findings in Yusho

Background: The ocular signs in Yusho include hypersecretion by the meibomian glands, abnormal pigmentation of the bulbar conjunctiva, unusual pigmentation of the limbal conjunctiva, pigmentation of the tarsal conjunctiva and edema of the eyelid. Participants and methods: The ocular symptoms in Yusho patients were analyzed to investigate their relationship with the concentration of dioxins in the blood. The participants were patients with Yusho who underwent examinations including measurement of blood dioxin levels and ocular symptoms in 2002. Results and conclusion: The significant relation between the increase in ocular discharge and the level of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in the blood is currently considered strong. No significant relationship with blood PCDF levels was found with any of the other four ocular symptoms. Although the blood levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins are now decreasing in Yusho patients, they still cause abnormal discharge from the eye.