Abstract
Background:
Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disorder frequently associated with ocular surface disturbances, including tear film instability, reduced tear secretion, and subtle corneal alterations. Despite increasing recognition of these complications, safe adjunctive therapies targeting inflammation-related ocular dysfunction remain limited. Curcumin, the principal bioactive compound of Curcuma longa, possesses well-documented anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may offer therapeutic benefit in inflammation-driven ocular surface disease.
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of oral Curcuma longa tincture supplementation on corneal curvature, tear film stability, and tear production in patients with psoriasis.
Methods:
This prospective interventional study was conducted at Madina Teaching Hospital and included 30 patients with clinically diagnosed psoriasis aged 25–40 years. Baseline ophthalmic assessment included keratometry, Tear Break-Up Time (TBUT), and Schirmer I test. Participants received 12 drops of Curcuma longa tincture twice daily for three months. Follow-up evaluations were performed at monthly intervals. Changes across time points were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with Greenhouse–Geisser correction. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results:
All evaluated parameters demonstrated progressive and statistically significant improvement over the study period. Mean TBUT increased from 5.62 ± 0.31 seconds at baseline to 10.61 ± 0.34 seconds at three months (p < 0.001), indicating marked enhancement in tear film stability. Schirmer test values improved from 7.65 ± 0.35 mm to 10.35 ± 0.43 mm (p < 0.001), approaching normal tear secretion levels. Keratometric readings showed a gradual reduction from 43.64 ± 0.78 D to 43.11 ± 0.78 D (p < 0.001), suggesting stabilization and mild flattening of corneal curvature. No significant adverse effects were reported during the intervention.
Conclusion:
Oral Curcuma longa tincture supplementation was associated with significant improvements in tear quality, tear quantity, and corneal parameters in psoriatic patients over three months. These findings support the potential role of curcumin as a safe adjunctive therapy for managing inflammation-related ocular surface dysfunction in psoriasis. Larger randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm these preliminary findings and to establish standardized treatment protocols.