Protein Diet in Bariatric Patients Could Modify Tear Film

Bariatric surgery patients have deficiencies of macro- and micronutrients that may be related to ophthalmic complications, for example consequences on tear film layers (lipid, aqueous, and mucosa). In this work, we associated protein diet and tear film layers in bariatric patients of a Mexican hospital. We measured characteristics of tear film by the Schirmer and tear break up time (TBUT) tests under three different protein percentage diets: 10, 15, and 25%. TBUT values were low in our study, and therefore, bariatric patients may have high possibilities to suffer dry eye or modifications in lipid tear layer. Bariatric patients, additional to the routine control, periodically should have an extensive eye examination.