Which ocular finding is commonly associated with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid?

Which ocular finding is commonly associated with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid?

• A. Symblepharon
• B. Dacryocystitis
• C. Orbital pseudotumor
• D. Madarosis

Answer: (A)

In ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, the eye is affected by chronic scarring of the conjunctiva, and the classic manifestation of this scarring is symblepharon — a adhesion between the inner eyelid surface and the eyeball conjunctiva. This happens because the autoimmune process damages the conjunctival basement membrane, leading to scar formation that fuses the lid to the globe. Dacryocystitis is an infection of the tear sac, orbital pseudotumor is a nonspecific inflammatory mass in the orbit, and madarosis is eyelash loss; none of these are as characteristic of the disease as symblepharon.

In ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, the eye is affected by chronic scarring of the conjunctiva, and the classic manifestation of this scarring is symblepharon — a adhesion between the inner eyelid surface and the eyeball conjunctiva. This happens because the autoimmune process damages the conjunctival basement membrane, leading to scar formation that fuses the lid to the globe. Dacryocystitis is an infection of the tear sac, orbital pseudotumor is a nonspecific inflammatory mass in the orbit, and madarosis is eyelash loss; none of these are as characteristic of the disease as symblepharon.