ASSOCIATION OF DRY EYE DISEASE WITH DIABETIC RETINOPATHY SEVERITY IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/m5e1ds78Keywords:
Dry eye disease, diabetic retinopathy, diabetes mellitus, tear film dysfunction, OSDI, TBUTAbstract
Purpose
To evaluate the association between dry eye disease (DED) and severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and to assess the relationship between duration of diabetes and dry eye severity.
Methods
This cross-sectional observational study included 150 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending the ophthalmology outpatient department of a tertiary care centre . All patients underwent detailed ophthalmic evaluation including Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, Schirmer I test, Tear Film Break-Up Time (TBUT), fluorescein corneal staining, and fundus examination. Diabetic retinopathy was graded according to Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) classification. Correlation between dry eye parameters and diabetic retinopathy severity was analyzed statistically.
Results
A significant association was observed between severity of diabetic retinopathy and severity of dry eye disease on Schirmer I test, TBUT, OSDI score, and corneal fluorescein staining (p<0.05). Severe dry eye was more frequently observed in patients with severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Duration of diabetes also showed significant correlation with worsening dry eye parameters (p<0.001). Patients with diabetes duration greater than 10 years demonstrated more severe tear film dysfunction and ocular surface abnormalities.
Conclusion
Dry eye disease severity increases with worsening diabetic retinopathy and longer duration of diabetes mellitus. Ocular surface evaluation should be considered an important component of routine diabetic eye assessment, particularly in patients with advanced diabetic retinopathy.
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