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Researchers: All diabetes patients should be evaluated for dry eye
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Researchers found that a large percentage of dry eye in patients with diabetes goes undiagnosed, so they recommend the use of a questionnaire for dry eye diagnosis in patients with diabetes.
Patients completed the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and the pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ), according to the study presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting.
Lissamine green staining was graded on a 0 to 4 scale across six areas of the conjunctiva and five corneal zones. Patients also underwent meibography, meibomian gland expression and noninvasive tear break-up time and hemoglobin A1c testing.
Eighty-one patients were enrolled if they were either previously identified as diabetic or pre-diabetic (DM), had dry eye disease (DED) or both (DMDED).
In the DM cohort of 37 patients, 19 were found to have dry eye based on DEWS II criteria.
Of the DMDED patients, there was significantly less self-reported redness compared to the DED cohort.
While overlap in signs and symptoms of diabetes associated with DED exists, there are differences in staining and self-reported redness, according to the study abstract.
The researchers found that a large percentage of dry eye in patients with diabetes goes undiagnosed based on DEWS II criteria.
“These patients may not complain about their dryness if they are ‘just coming in for their diabetes,’” Scott Schwartz, OD, told Primary Care Optometry News. “They still are symptomatic when probed with questions or a questionnaire like the OSDI. In light of our findings, for me, all diabetes patients are dry eye patients until proven otherwise.”
The researchers concluded that a questionnaire for dry eye diagnosis may be a valuable tool in regular clinical practice for those with diabetes. – by Abigail Sutton
Reference:
Schwartz S, et al. Does diabetes make a difference in dry eye? Presented at: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology; Honolulu; April 29-May 3, 2018.
Disclosures: Schwartz reported no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for all remaining authors’ financial disclosures.