Evaluation of tear secretion and tear film stability in breast cancer patients under chemotherapy

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To evaluate tear secretion and tear film stability of women with early stage breast cancer in relation to the disease and the chemotherapy Methods 50 consecutive early stage breast cancer patients, mean age 58.86±12.28, were recruited for this study. All patients underwent mastectomy and adjuvant treatment with the FEC regimen (5‐FU 600 mg/m2, Epirubicin 60‐90 mg/m2, Cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2). The patients were taking the regimen every 21 days, for 6 cycles. All patients were free of symptoms and disease affecting tear secretion and tear film stability. Schirmer test (without anesthetic) and tears Break up Time test (BUT) were performed before the initiation of the chemotherapy and immediately after the end of the 3rd therapeutic cycle. Both left and right eyes of the patients (100 eyes in total) were included for analysis. Abnormal (impaired secretion) Schirmer test values were considered those of ≤10mm in 5 minutes and for BUT (impaired tear film stability) the values of ≤10 sec. Results Before the initiation of chemotherapy, the mean score of Schirmer test was 14.96±6.29 mm and for BUT was 12.94±4.54 sec. After the third chemotherapeutic cycle the mean score for Schirmer test was 17.59±7.27 mm and the BUT was 11.06±4.54 sec. Before the initiation of the chemotherapy, abnormal Schirmer test had 14% of the patients and abnormal BUT test 19%. After the third therapeutic cycle, abnormal Schirmer test values had the 13% and abnormal BUT values the 31% of the sample. Conclusion After 3 cycles of chemotherapy with the FEC regimen, mainly the BUT values tend to diminish. More patients (31%) have reduced BUT values after the chemotherapy.