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The effect of vitamin D insufficiency on tear meniscus parameters in patients without symptomatic dry eye
Gizem Gürbostan Soysal1, Sevim Ayca Seyyar2, Murat Mercanlı3
1Ophthalmology Department, Gaziantep City Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Clinical Relevance:
The relationship between vitamin D status and eyehealth is important, as vitamin D is known to play a role in maintaining theintegrity of the tear film, which is important for overall eye function.
Background:
Vitamin D insufficiency has been associated withvarious ocular conditions, including dry eyes. This study aimed to examine thedifferences in tear meniscus parameters between patients with serum vitamin Dinsufficiency and healthy controls without symptomatic dry eye disease.
Methods:
A total of 68 participants (34 in each group) wereincluded. Tear meniscus parameters were measured with anterior segment spectraldomain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and images were analysed by ImageJsoftware. Tear meniscus parameters of individuals with low serum vitamin Dlevels were comprehensively evaluated and compared to healthy controls. Tearmeniscus height (TMH) was evaluated as the primary outcome measure. Tearmeniscus depth (TMD), turbidity (TMT), percentage of area covered by particlesin the meniscus (PAOP), ocular surface disease index (OSDI), tear break-up time(TBUT) and Schirmer test results were evaluated.
Results:
OSDI, Schirmer, and TBUT parameters were within thenormal range in both groups. However, the OSDI score was significantly higherin the low serum vitamin D group, and Schirmer and TBUT scores weresignificantly better in healthy controls (p < 0.05 for all). Moreover, TMH andTMD values were significantly lower in the low serum vitamin D group (TMH:p = 0.033, Cohen's d = -0.09; TMD: p = 0.041, Cohen's d = -0.07). No significantdifferences were observed in PAOP and TMT values".
Conclusion:
Lower TMH and TMD levels were observed in tear meniscus parameters in patientswith vitamin D insufficiency compared to healthy controls, suggesting thatvitamin D status may play a role in ocular surface health.
