Subclinical vitamin A deficiency was assessed in 65 Hispanic children attending four migrant Head Start programs in Utah. Subjects aged 2 to 6 years (median 3 years 10 months) were examined for evidence of vitamin A deficiency by conjunctival impression cytology. Biochemical indices for serum vitamin A, retinol-binding protein, zinc, and iron were performed. Of eight children (12.5%) with subclinical vitamin A deficiency, one child had a marginal serum vitamin A of 11 μg/dl. Retinol-binding protein concentrations were significantly lower in two subjects with abnormal conjunctival impression cytology. Serum zinc, which when low can mimic signs of ocular vitamin A lesions, was normal for all 65 subjects. Fifteen children (23%) had iron-deficiency anemia. Logistic regression was the central method of analysis used in this study. The results of the statistical analyses indicated there was a correlation value (0.31) between abnormal conjunctival impression cytology and serum vitamin A, which supports the hypothesis that abnormal conjunctiva! impression cytology is concurrent with decreased serum vitamin A. Assessment of vitamin A status of Hispanic migrant children by impression cytology was effective in identifying children at risk for hypovitaminosis A. Beyond vitamin A's role in vision and maintenance of epithelium, it is also required for growth and hematopoiesis. The children of migrant workers may be suffering physiologically important consequences of vitamin A and iron deficiency that can be prevented by screening with biochemical and histological testing. Nutrition intervention for deficient children is warranted.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T12:59:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 parte1.pdf: 1499360 bytes, checksum: 73a1a71524a39b1fbaa99614b57d192f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-11-10 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The physiological and pharmacological effects of isotretinoin are yet to be completely understood despite its widespread use in the treatment of acne vulgaris and the known adverse effects that it may cause, dry eyes being one of the most common. The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of oral isotretinoin on the conjunctiva of patients submitted to treatment with this drug, using impression cytology. A prospective cohort clinical trial was conducted at the Ophthalmological Referral Center of the Federal University of Paraíba and at the Laboratory of External Eye Diseases of the Federal University of São Paulo. Twentyeight patients with acne vulgaris were selected. A questionnaire on symptoms was applied and biomicroscopy, tear film break-up time (TBUT), fluorescein staining, Shirmer s test, rose bengal staining and impression cytology (IC) were performed prior to and after three months of treatment with oral isotretinoin. Samples for IC were collected from the temporal, superior, nasal and inferior bulbar conjunctiva of both eyes. The doses of isotretinoin varied from 0.35 to 0.88 mg/kg/day. Compared to pretreatment, burning, pruritus and gritty eye sensation were significantly more common during treatment with this drug, as were the biomicroscopic changes of hyperemia and blepharitis. The percentage of positive results for dry eyes according to TBUT and for rose bengal conjunctival staining was also greater during treatment. Regarding Shirmer s test and fluorescein staining of the cornea, no statistically significant changes were found with exposure to the drug. With respect to IC performed on the samples obtained from the superior and temporal quadrants, there was a reduction in the percentage of normal results from 100% to 82% and from 75% to 43%, respectively, and an increase in the percentage of borderline results from 0 to 14% and from 21% to 47%, respectively, during treatment compared to baseline results. For the samples from the nasal quadrant, an increase occurred in the percentage of abnormal findings from 0 to 11%, while in the samples taken from the inferior quadrant, no changes were found with the use of isotretinoin. The parameters affected by this treatment were cell-to-cell contact, nucleus-tocytoplasm ratio and the distribution of goblet cells, the scores of which increased significantly. No significant correlation was found between the results of IC, symptom score and tear function tests. Therefore, the present findings show that acne treatment with oral isotretinoin results in changes in the conjunctival epithelium in a significant percentage of patients. These changes are seen both in the exposed region of the bulbar conjunctiva (temporal and nasal) and in the unexposed conjunctiva (superior) and reflect a trend towards squamous metaplasia as an adaptive response of the conjunctival epithelium, which tends to become nonsecretory under the effect of the drug. / As ações fisiológicas e farmacológicas da isotretinoína ainda não são completamente conhecidas, apesar da sua ampla utilização no tratamento da acne vulgar e dos efeitos adversos que pode causar. Dentre esses, o quadro de olho seco é um dos mais frequentes. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a toxicidade da isotretinoína oral sobre a conjuntiva de pacientes submetidos a tratamento com o fármaco, utilizando a citologia de impressão. Realizou-se estudo clínico prospectivo tipo coorte no Centro de Referência Oftalmológica da Universidade Federal da Paraíba e no Laboratório de Doenças Externas Oculares da Universidade Federal de São Paulo. Foram selecionados 28 pacientes portadores de acne vulgar. Realizou-se questionário de sintomas, biomicroscopia, teste do tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal (TBUT), coloração por fluoresceína, teste de Shirmer, coloração por rosa bengala e citologia de impressão (CI) antes e aos 3 meses de tratamento com isotretinoína oral. Os espécimes para a CI foram coletados dos quadrantes temporal, superior, nasal e inferior da conjuntiva bulbar de ambos os olhos. As doses de isotretinoína variaram de 0,35 a 0,88 mg/kg/dia. Em relação ao pré-tratamento, os sintomas ardor ocular , prurido e sensação de areia nos olhos , assim como as alterações biomicroscópicas hiperemia e blefarite , ocorreram com uma frequência significantemente maior durante o tratamento com o fármaco. O percentual de resultados positivos para olho seco, para o TBUT e para a coloração conjuntival por rosa bengala também foi significantemente maior na vigência do tratamento. Para o teste de Shirmer e para a coloração da córnea por fluoresceína, não houve mudanças significantes com a exposição ao fármaco. Quanto à CI, para os espécimes obtidos dos quadrantes superior e temporal, houve diminuição do percentual de resultados normais (de 100 para 82 e de 75 para 43, respectivamente) e aumento do percentual de resultados limítrofes (de 0 para 14 e de 21 para 47, respectivamente) durante o tratamento, em relação aos resultados iniciais. Para os espécimes do quadrante nasal, houve aumento do percentual de resultados anormais (de 0 para 11), e para aqueles do quadrante inferior, não se observaram alterações com o uso de isotretinoína. Com o tratamento, foram afetados os parâmetros contato célula-célula , razão núcleo/citoplasma e distribuição das células caliciformes , que sofreram aumento significante em seus escores. Não houve uma correlação significante entre os resultados da CI, do escore de sintomas e dos testes da função lacrimal. Assim, de acordo com os resultados obtidos, o tratamento da acne com isotretinoína oral induz alterações no epitélio conjuntival de um percentual significante de pacientes. Essas alterações são observadas tanto na região exposta da conjuntiva bulbar (temporal e nasal), como na não exposta (superior) e representam uma tendência à metaplasia escamosa, como uma resposta adaptativa do epitélio conjuntival, que tende a se tornar não secretor sob efeito do fármaco.

Objetivo: descrever os achados de citologia de impressão em voluntários saudáveis e correlacioná-los com testes de olho seco e sintomatologia. Métodos: coleta de citologia de impressão (CI) da conjuntiva superior, inferior, nasal e temporal após anamnese, questionário de sintomas (QU) e exames clínicos biomicroscópicos, teste de Schirmer (TS), tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal (TRFL), escores de fluoresceína (EF) e rosa bengala (ERB). Resultados: Foram examinados 78 olhos de 39 pacientes (30 mulheres, 85% brancos). Idade média foi de 36 anos (16-71 anos). Oitenta e cinco porcento dos pacientes eram assintomáticos no QU. TRFL médio foi de 13,6 segundos (70% ≥ 10 s), TS médio foi 19,2 mm (76% ≥ 6 mm), ERB foi 0-3 em 87%, EF foi zero em 75%. Biomicroscopia apresentou resultado normal em 65% dos olhos. CI foi normal em: 81% superior, 57% nasal, 87% inferior, 75% temporal. Foi encontrado padrão de cromatina snake-like em 15% das amostras superiores. Houve pouca correlação entre os testes clínicos, questionário e achados citológicos. A citologia de impressão do sítio nasal e a presença de cromatina snake-like associaram-se com alguns testes da superfície ocular, sintomas e com a idade dos pacientes. Conclusão: Nosso estudo encontrou 30% de testes clínicos anormais, sintomas e achados citológicos alterados (anormal e limítrofe) neste grupo de indivíduos normais. Os achados da conjuntiva bulbar da área de fenda e superior são os que mais apresentam alterações. Entretanto, apesar de algumas associações significativas, não houve correlação conclusiva entre testes, sintomas e citologia de impressão. / Purpose: To describe conjunctival findings of impression cytology in healthy volunteers and to correlate to dry eye tests and symptoms. Methods: superior, inferior, nasal and temporal bulbar conjunctivae impression cytology, symptoms questionnaire, slit lamp examination, Schirmer test (ST), tear film break-up time (TFBUT), fluorescein staining (FS) and rose Bengal staining (RBS) were evaluated. Results: 78 eyes of 39 patients (30 female, 85% white) were examined. Mean age was 36 years (16-71 years). Eighty-five percent of patients were asymptomatic in questionnaire. Mean TFBUT was 13.6 seconds (70% ≥ 10 sec), ST median was 19.2 mm (76% ≥ 6 mm), RBS grade was 0-3 in 87%, FS was 0 in 75%. Slit lamp examination did not reveal any alteration in 65% of the eyes. Impression cytology showed normal aspect in: 81% superior, 57% nasal, 87% inferior, and 75% temporal. Snake-like chromatin pattern was present in 15% of superior samples. There were few correlations among clinical tests, questionnaire result and cytological findings. Nasal impression cytology results and snake-like chromatin were associated with some ocular surface exams, symptoms and age of patients. Conclusion: Our study identified prevalence of 30% of abnormal clinical tests, symptoms, and altered cytological findings (abnormal and borderline) in this group of normal subjects. Impression cytology findings of exposed bulbar conjunctiva and superior conjunctiva are more often altered. Despite a few associations among tests, there was no conclusive correlation among these tests, symptoms and impression cytology results.

Objetivo: descrever os achados de citologia de impressão em voluntários saudáveis e correlacioná-los com testes de olho seco e sintomatologia. Métodos: coleta de citologia de impressão (CI) da conjuntiva superior, inferior, nasal e temporal após anamnese, questionário de sintomas (QU) e exames clínicos biomicroscópicos, teste de Schirmer (TS), tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal (TRFL), escores de fluoresceína (EF) e rosa bengala (ERB). Resultados: Foram examinados 78 olhos de 39 pacientes (30 mulheres, 85% brancos). Idade média foi de 36 anos (16-71 anos). Oitenta e cinco porcento dos pacientes eram assintomáticos no QU. TRFL médio foi de 13,6 segundos (70% ≥ 10 s), TS médio foi 19,2 mm (76% ≥ 6 mm), ERB foi 0-3 em 87%, EF foi zero em 75%. Biomicroscopia apresentou resultado normal em 65% dos olhos. CI foi normal em: 81% superior, 57% nasal, 87% inferior, 75% temporal. Foi encontrado padrão de cromatina snake-like em 15% das amostras superiores. Houve pouca correlação entre os testes clínicos, questionário e achados citológicos. A citologia de impressão do sítio nasal e a presença de cromatina snake-like associaram-se com alguns testes da superfície ocular, sintomas e com a idade dos pacientes. Conclusão: Nosso estudo encontrou 30% de testes clínicos anormais, sintomas e achados citológicos alterados (anormal e limítrofe) neste grupo de indivíduos normais. Os achados da conjuntiva bulbar da área de fenda e superior são os que mais apresentam alterações. Entretanto, apesar de algumas associações significativas, não houve correlação conclusiva entre testes, sintomas e citologia de impressão. / Purpose: To describe conjunctival findings of impression cytology in healthy volunteers and to correlate to dry eye tests and symptoms. Methods: superior, inferior, nasal and temporal bulbar conjunctivae impression cytology, symptoms questionnaire, slit lamp examination, Schirmer test (ST), tear film break-up time (TFBUT), fluorescein staining (FS) and rose Bengal staining (RBS) were evaluated. Results: 78 eyes of 39 patients (30 female, 85% white) were examined. Mean age was 36 years (16-71 years). Eighty-five percent of patients were asymptomatic in questionnaire. Mean TFBUT was 13.6 seconds (70% ≥ 10 sec), ST median was 19.2 mm (76% ≥ 6 mm), RBS grade was 0-3 in 87%, FS was 0 in 75%. Slit lamp examination did not reveal any alteration in 65% of the eyes. Impression cytology showed normal aspect in: 81% superior, 57% nasal, 87% inferior, and 75% temporal. Snake-like chromatin pattern was present in 15% of superior samples. There were few correlations among clinical tests, questionnaire result and cytological findings. Nasal impression cytology results and snake-like chromatin were associated with some ocular surface exams, symptoms and age of patients. Conclusion: Our study identified prevalence of 30% of abnormal clinical tests, symptoms, and altered cytological findings (abnormal and borderline) in this group of normal subjects. Impression cytology findings of exposed bulbar conjunctiva and superior conjunctiva are more often altered. Despite a few associations among tests, there was no conclusive correlation among these tests, symptoms and impression cytology results.

Objetivo: descrever os achados de citologia de impressão em voluntários saudáveis e correlacioná-los com testes de olho seco e sintomatologia. Métodos: coleta de citologia de impressão (CI) da conjuntiva superior, inferior, nasal e temporal após anamnese, questionário de sintomas (QU) e exames clínicos biomicroscópicos, teste de Schirmer (TS), tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal (TRFL), escores de fluoresceína (EF) e rosa bengala (ERB). Resultados: Foram examinados 78 olhos de 39 pacientes (30 mulheres, 85% brancos). Idade média foi de 36 anos (16-71 anos). Oitenta e cinco porcento dos pacientes eram assintomáticos no QU. TRFL médio foi de 13,6 segundos (70% ≥ 10 s), TS médio foi 19,2 mm (76% ≥ 6 mm), ERB foi 0-3 em 87%, EF foi zero em 75%. Biomicroscopia apresentou resultado normal em 65% dos olhos. CI foi normal em: 81% superior, 57% nasal, 87% inferior, 75% temporal. Foi encontrado padrão de cromatina snake-like em 15% das amostras superiores. Houve pouca correlação entre os testes clínicos, questionário e achados citológicos. A citologia de impressão do sítio nasal e a presença de cromatina snake-like associaram-se com alguns testes da superfície ocular, sintomas e com a idade dos pacientes. Conclusão: Nosso estudo encontrou 30% de testes clínicos anormais, sintomas e achados citológicos alterados (anormal e limítrofe) neste grupo de indivíduos normais. Os achados da conjuntiva bulbar da área de fenda e superior são os que mais apresentam alterações. Entretanto, apesar de algumas associações significativas, não houve correlação conclusiva entre testes, sintomas e citologia de impressão. / Purpose: To describe conjunctival findings of impression cytology in healthy volunteers and to correlate to dry eye tests and symptoms. Methods: superior, inferior, nasal and temporal bulbar conjunctivae impression cytology, symptoms questionnaire, slit lamp examination, Schirmer test (ST), tear film break-up time (TFBUT), fluorescein staining (FS) and rose Bengal staining (RBS) were evaluated. Results: 78 eyes of 39 patients (30 female, 85% white) were examined. Mean age was 36 years (16-71 years). Eighty-five percent of patients were asymptomatic in questionnaire. Mean TFBUT was 13.6 seconds (70% ≥ 10 sec), ST median was 19.2 mm (76% ≥ 6 mm), RBS grade was 0-3 in 87%, FS was 0 in 75%. Slit lamp examination did not reveal any alteration in 65% of the eyes. Impression cytology showed normal aspect in: 81% superior, 57% nasal, 87% inferior, and 75% temporal. Snake-like chromatin pattern was present in 15% of superior samples. There were few correlations among clinical tests, questionnaire result and cytological findings. Nasal impression cytology results and snake-like chromatin were associated with some ocular surface exams, symptoms and age of patients. Conclusion: Our study identified prevalence of 30% of abnormal clinical tests, symptoms, and altered cytological findings (abnormal and borderline) in this group of normal subjects. Impression cytology findings of exposed bulbar conjunctiva and superior conjunctiva are more often altered. Despite a few associations among tests, there was no conclusive correlation among these tests, symptoms and impression cytology results.

Optimiser le diagnostic paraclinique prédictif et non invasif du déficit en cellules souches limbiques (DCSL) : in vitro après empreinte cytologique (EC) par la recherche immunohistochimique (IH) de marqueurs pertinents et par reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), technique de haute sensibilité ; in vivo par microscopie confocale (MCIV). Matériel et Méthodes: La preuve diagnostique de DCSL est la présence de cellules conjonctivales au sein de la cornée, la persistance de cellules cornéennes signant un DCSL partiel. L'EC a été standardisée. La spécificité de chacun des marqueurs cornéens ou conjonctivaux sélectionnés a été recherchée sur des tissus normaux avant d'aborder une étude prospective monocentrique, sur 22 yeux de 18 patients cliniquement suspects de DCSL. Les cellules épithéliales de la cornée centrale étaient recueillies par EC puis transférées sur lame. L'expression des marqueurs de différentiation conjonctivale (K7, K13, K19, MUC5AC) et cornéenne (K12) a été recherchée par IH sur les 22 EC et celle de la MUC5AC par RT-PCR sur 4 d'entre elles. Enfin, la cornée et le limbe de 7 patients ont étés analysés par MCIV. La concordance entre les techniques est évaluée. Conclusion: Ces techniques complémentaires dépendent de l'équipement du service et de l'accessibilité à un laboratoire compétent. Un organigramme décisionnel a été établi pour permettre de faire un diagnostic fiable de DCSL, les examens paracliniques étant inutiles dans certains cas. La recherche IH de kératines conjonctivales K7/K13 et/ou la détection de MUC5AC par RT-PCR sur cellules cornéennes recueillies par EC sont des techniques diagnostiques de haute valeur scientifique, tandis que l'IH K12/MUC5AC doit être abandonnée pour manque de sensibilité et celle de K3/K19 pour manque de spécificité. La MCIV, quand elle est réalisable, est une technique hautement sensible qui permet une quantification du degré de sévérité de la maladie avec une forte concordance avec les autres examens / Purpose: to optimize minimally invasive techniques for diagnosing limbal stem cell deficiency: in vitro after impression cytology (IC) by means of immunocytochemical detection of relevant markers and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR), an highly sensitive method; in vivo by confocal microscopy (IVCM). Material and Methods: Presence of conjunctival cells in central cornea was diagnosis proof of LSCD, whereas corneal epithelial cells’ remaining traduces partial LSCD. IC was labeled. Corneal or conjunctival specificity of each marker was previously assessed on healthy tissues. In a prospective case control observational study, 22 eyes of 18 patients clinically suspected of LSCD were enrolled. Epithelial cells from central cornea were collected by IC. Conjunctival (K7, K13, K19, MUC5AC) and corneal (K12) differentiation markers were assessed by immunocytochemistry on each of 22 eyes and MUC5AC RT-PCR was assessed for 4 of them. Cornea and limbus of 7 eyes were assessed by IVCM. The inter-examination agreement was determined. Conclusion: These techniques require skilled technicians and laboratory facilities. We propose a decision tree model to provide unfailing LSCD diagnosis, complementary examinations being sometimes useless. Clinical examination can lead to LSCD misdiagnosis. Immunostaining of conjunctival keratins K7 and K13 as well as MUC5AC detection by RT-PCR are highly effective methods whereas MUC5AC/K12 immuno staining are not sensible and both K3 and K19 are not specific. IVCM of great sensitivity if realizable allows quantification of LSCD severity. Combining both methods provides in every case unfailing diagnosis of LSCD and evaluation of the extent of the disease with high agreement

Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-26T18:55:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTACAO_ Magda - 21-08-2011- corrigido.pdf: 2313731 bytes, checksum: 7e4161e3e3a18ed9159672a8d9d78833 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-06-30 / The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the linseed oil (OL) in different preparations (oral, topically, oral and topically combined) in the treatment of the kerato-conjunctivitis sicca (KCS) experimentally induced in rabbits. Twenty white male rabbits of the New Zeland race were used. They were divided in 4 groups of 5 animals each: Group C (Control); Group OLO (OL oral); Group OLT (OL topically); and Group OLOT (OL oral and topically). The rabbits were evaluated weekly by the Shirmer Tear Test (TLS), Flourescein Test (TF) and the Rose-Bengal Test (TRB), and a ocular impression cytology exam was done once a month, and at the end of the experiment the rabbits were sacrificed to a histopathological analysis. There was a significant improvement in the parameters analysed (TLS,TF and TRB) in all the groups that used OL, but there was differences in the performance of each group. In the TLS the groups OLO and OLT showed larger values than the OLOT group from the 7th week to the end of the experiment. In TF the group OLT reverted the incidence of corneal ulcers earlier than the other groups starting on the 5th week. In TRB, the group OLO and also the OLT showed normal values starting on the 9th week, while the group OLOT only on the last week. In the cytological findings the group OLT showed a more advanced stage of inflammation on the 4th and 8th week and also on the hispathological findings of this group showed a more advanced stage of edema, degeneration and necrosis than the other groups. It wasn´t observed any collateral damage due the use of OL. The results analyzed showed that the OL, topically or oral, was efficient on the treatment of CCS experimentally induced in rabbits and can be and excellent adjuvant, natural and safe, in the treatment of this illness / O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficácia do óleo de semente de linhaça (OL) em várias preparações (oral, tópica, oral e tópica associadas) no tratamento da ceratoconjuntivite seca (CCS) induzida experimentalmente em coelhos. Foram utilizados vinte coelhos brancos machos da raça Nova Zelândia. Os animais foram divididos em 4 grupos com 5 animais cada: Grupo C (controle) animais hígidos; Grupo OLO (OL via oral); Grupo OLT (OL por via tópica) e Grupo OLOT (OL via oral e tópica). Os coelhos foram avaliados semanalmente pelo Teste de Lágrima de Schirmer (TLS), Teste de Fluoresceína (TF) e Teste de Rosa Bengala (TRB), uma vez por mês pelo exame de citologia de impressão ocular, e ao final do experimento foram sacrificados para análise histopatológica. Houve melhora clínica significativa nos parâmetros analisados (TLS, TF e TRB) em todos os grupos que usaram OL, porém, houve diferenças no desempenho de cada grupo. Os Grupos OLO e OLT apresentaram valores superiores do TLS, quando comparado com o Grupo OLOT a partir da 7ª semana até o final da observação. No TF o grupo OLT reverteu mais precocemente, a partir da 5ª semana, a incidência de úlceras na córnea, do que os demais grupos. Os Grupos OLO e OLT apresentaram TRB negativos para CCS a partir da 9ª semana, enquanto o grupo OLOT somente na última semana. Nos achados citológicos o grupo OLT apresentou um maior grau de inflamação na 4ª e 8ª semana e também nos achados histopatológicos esse grupo apresentou um maior grau de edema, degeneração e necrose do que os demais grupos. Não foi observado nenhum efeito colateral com o uso do OL. Os resultados analisados demonstraram que o OL, tanto por via oral como tópica, foi eficaz no tratamento de CCS induzida experimentalmente em coelhos e pode ser um adjuvante, natural, no tratamento desta enfermidade.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-18T17:53:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTACAO_ Magda - 21-08-2011- corrigido.pdf: 2313731 bytes, checksum: 7e4161e3e3a18ed9159672a8d9d78833 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-06-30 / The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the linseed oil (OL) in different preparations (oral, topically, oral and topically combined) in the treatment of the kerato-conjunctivitis sicca (KCS) experimentally induced in rabbits. Twenty white male rabbits of the New Zeland race were used. They were divided in 4 groups of 5 animals each: Group C (Control); Group OLO (OL oral); Group OLT (OL topically); and Group OLOT (OL oral and topically). The rabbits were evaluated weekly by the Shirmer Tear Test (TLS), Flourescein Test (TF) and the Rose-Bengal Test (TRB), and a ocular impression cytology exam was done once a month, and at the end of the experiment the rabbits were sacrificed to a histopathological analysis. There was a significant improvement in the parameters analysed (TLS,TF and TRB) in all the groups that used OL, but there was differences in the performance of each group. In the TLS the groups OLO and OLT showed larger values than the OLOT group from the 7th week to the end of the experiment. In TF the group OLT reverted the incidence of corneal ulcers earlier than the other groups starting on the 5th week. In TRB, the group OLO and also the OLT showed normal values starting on the 9th week, while the group OLOT only on the last week. In the cytological findings the group OLT showed a more advanced stage of inflammation on the 4th and 8th week and also on the hispathological findings of this group showed a more advanced stage of edema, degeneration and necrosis than the other groups. It wasn´t observed any collateral damage due the use of OL. The results analyzed showed that the OL, topically or oral, was efficient on the treatment of CCS experimentally induced in rabbits and can be and excellent adjuvant, natural and safe, in the treatment of this illness / O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficácia do óleo de semente de linhaça (OL) em várias preparações (oral, tópica, oral e tópica associadas) no tratamento da ceratoconjuntivite seca (CCS) induzida experimentalmente em coelhos. Foram utilizados vinte coelhos brancos machos da raça Nova Zelândia. Os animais foram divididos em 4 grupos com 5 animais cada: Grupo C (controle) animais hígidos; Grupo OLO (OL via oral); Grupo OLT (OL por via tópica) e Grupo OLOT (OL via oral e tópica). Os coelhos foram avaliados semanalmente pelo Teste de Lágrima de Schirmer (TLS), Teste de Fluoresceína (TF) e Teste de Rosa Bengala (TRB), uma vez por mês pelo exame de citologia de impressão ocular, e ao final do experimento foram sacrificados para análise histopatológica. Houve melhora clínica significativa nos parâmetros analisados (TLS, TF e TRB) em todos os grupos que usaram OL, porém, houve diferenças no desempenho de cada grupo. Os Grupos OLO e OLT apresentaram valores superiores do TLS, quando comparado com o Grupo OLOT a partir da 7ª semana até o final da observação. No TF o grupo OLT reverteu mais precocemente, a partir da 5ª semana, a incidência de úlceras na córnea, do que os demais grupos. Os Grupos OLO e OLT apresentaram TRB negativos para CCS a partir da 9ª semana, enquanto o grupo OLOT somente na última semana. Nos achados citológicos o grupo OLT apresentou um maior grau de inflamação na 4ª e 8ª semana e também nos achados histopatológicos esse grupo apresentou um maior grau de edema, degeneração e necrose do que os demais grupos. Não foi observado nenhum efeito colateral com o uso do OL. Os resultados analisados demonstraram que o OL, tanto por via oral como tópica, foi eficaz no tratamento de CCS induzida experimentalmente em coelhos e pode ser um adjuvante, natural, no tratamento desta enfermidade.