Correlation of conjunctival impression cytology results with lacrimal function and age.

Impression specimens were obtained from the bulbar conjunctiva of 146 eyes of 73 healthy volunteers (mean age, 52 years). Goblet cell densities and nuclear-cytoplasmic (N/C) ratio were determined. Break-up time (BUT), Schirmer-I test (S-I), Rose Bengal scores (RBs) were also recorded. Using a simple linear regression analysis, no correlation between the number of Goblet cells and age, BUT and S-I was found. Negative correlation with RBs (P = 0.05) was found. The N/C ratio has a negative correlation (P less than 0.01) with age and RBs and a positive correlation with BUT (P less than 0.01) and S-I (P = 0.03).