Abstract
It has been reported that many diabetic patients complain of dry eye symptoms. Thus this study was aimed at investigating tear secretion and tear film stability in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Eighty (80) subjects within the age range of 50-60 years with mean age of 55 ± 3.42 years were recruited for this study.They comprised of 40 NIDDM patients (19 males and 21 females) and 40 age and gender matched controls (18 males and 22 females) without diabetes. Schirmer test and invasive tear break up time(TBUT) were used to determine tear secretion and tear film stability respectively. Results showed an apparent reduction in both total and basal tear secretions for the NIDDM patients compared with that for control subjects. However this reduction was not statistically significant with the unpaired t-test. (p > 0.05). Unpaired t-test revealed a statistically significant reduction in TBUT of the NID-DM group compared with control subjects. Cor-relation analysis revealed a negative correlation between fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels and both basal and total tear secretions. (r = −0.51, p < 0.05) and (r = −0.54 p < 0.05) respectively. There was also a negative correlation between FBS and TBUT (r = −0.34 p = 0.03). The student t-test showed no influence of gender on both tear secretions and TBUT for NIDDM patients and controls. This study shows that both tear secretion and tear film stability are affected by NIDDM, and concurs with the findings that diabetic patients often complain of dry eye symptoms. (S Afr Optom 2010 69(3) 140-145)
Highlights
Type 2 diabetes mellitus or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is a multi-factorial disease that may involve improper insulin secretion, malfunctioning insulin and or insulin resistance in peripheral tissues[1, 2]
The value in the NIDDM showed a slightly lower secretion than the control, but unpaired t-test showed no significant difference in both groups, (p>0.05)
fasting blood sugar (FBS) and total tear secretion (r = −0.54, p < 0.05), Basal tear secretion, total tear secretion and tear break up time (TBUT) in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus were assessed in this study and results compared with those of normal subjects
Summary
Type 2 diabetes mellitus or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is a multi-factorial disease that may involve improper insulin secretion, malfunctioning insulin and or insulin resistance in peripheral tissues[1, 2]. Researchers have documented various ocular manifestations of diabetes mellitus to include large fluctuations in refraction, premature cataractogenesis and non proliferative and proliferative retinopathy[3]. It has been noted that many diabetic patients complain of dry eye symptoms such as burning or foreign body sensation, and dryness[4]. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca has been reported to be more common amongst diabetic patients[5]. Murat et al 8 reported significantly lower tear break up time (TBUT) and Schirmer test values in diabetic patients
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