Prevalence of dry eye in diabetics

Purpose The aim of this work is to study the prevalence of dry eye in type II diabetic patients and to correlate the dry eye with the duration of the diabetes and the level of Glycosylated Hemoglobin (Hb 1 Ac). Patients and methods It is a prospective randomized study in which 100 eyes (50 diabetics, 50 control) with type II diabetes mellitus is included in the study attending in department of ophthalmology Ain Shams University. Dry eye was confirmed by tear film break up time (TBUT) and Schirmer I test. Results Schirmer and tear film BUT values were lower among the uncontrolled diabetic patients. There is highly statistically significant relation between severity of dry eye by Schirmer test with duration of diabetes, hypertension, Debris in tear film, degree of diabetic retinopathy, Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1C), with P value 0.003, 0.044, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000 respectively. There is highly statistically significant relation between severity of dry eye by BUT test with duration of DM, HTN, Debris in tear film, DR, HbA1C, with P value 0.002, 0.032, 0.000, 0.001, 0.000 respectively. Conclusion Diabetic patients are more prone to suffering from dry eye than normal subjects. These abnormalities can result in severe complications. Early examination of the diabetic patients for the detection of the ocular surface disorders is indicated.