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[The dry eye and diabetes mellitus]
1Medizinisches Zentrum für Augenheilkunde, Universität Marburg.
Summary
Diabetic patients frequently experience dry eye syndrome, with over 50% reporting symptoms. Effective blood sugar control is crucial for preventing dry eye and retinopathy in individuals with diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Endocrinology
- Diabetology
Background:
- Diabetic patients often present with ocular surface issues.
- Dry eye syndrome is a common complaint among individuals with diabetes mellitus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of dry eye syndrome in patients with type I and type II diabetes.
- To compare ocular findings in diabetic patients with healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Ophthalmological examination including subjective complaints, tear film break-up time (BUT), basal secretion test, and impression cytology.
- Comparison of 92 diabetic patients (ages 7-69) with age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
- Correlation analysis with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and diabetic retinopathy grade.
Main Results:
- 52.8% of diabetic patients reported dry eye symptoms versus 9.3% of controls.
- 94.2% of diabetics had a BUT < 10s, compared to 5.8% of controls.
- Pathologic conjunctival epithelium (Grade III-V) was found in 86% of diabetics, significantly higher than controls (6.7%).
- Dry eye syndrome was diagnosed in 70% of type II and 57% of type I diabetics.
- A positive correlation was observed between HbA1c levels and the incidence of dry eye syndrome.
Conclusions:
- Diabetic patients exhibit a significantly higher prevalence of dry eye syndrome.
- Impression cytology is a highly sensitive method for diagnosing dry eye in diabetics.
- Maintaining optimal glycemic control is essential for preventing dry eye syndrome and diabetic retinopathy.