DR. ANSU ANN JOHN

Abstract

Method: A cross sectional study was conducted among 100 diabetics at a university teaching hospital. A complete ophthalmological evaluation was done. Dry eye disease (DED) was confirmed by clinical tests, Tear film break up time (TBUT), Schirmer’s I test (ST) and an Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire.

Results: 54 patients showed diabetic retinopathy (DR). 35 (64.8%) of 54 DR subjects had DED based on ST (<10sec). 50 diabetic patients had TBUT <10sec in which 78% (39 patients) had DR. DR subjects had 2.98 times more chances of having ST value ≤10mm and 7.09 times more chances of having TBUT ≤10 seconds than those without DR. High association was seen between severity of DED and OSDI scoring, between duration of DM with severity of DED, and between increase in HbA1c with DED severity. Conclusion: Diabetic patients have increased tendency to develop DED. An OSDI questionnaire, apart from clinical tests, is a good method of identifying DED at its early stages.