PREVALENCE OF DRY EYE DISEASE IN TYPE 2 DIABETIC PATIENTS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH RETINOPATHY

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is one of the risk factor for dry eye disease (DED) and known factor for diabetic retinopathy (DR). There are few studies have been already reported the prevalence of DED nevertheless studies shown prevalence of DED and DR by sex in patients with T2D. The study was carried out with 100 T2D patients.  DED was assessed with Tear break up time and Schirmer tests. All the subjects were examined by slit lamp bio-microscopy and colored fundus photographs. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) was graded according to early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy (ETDRS) criteria. Out of 100 T2D patients, the prevalence of DED was noticed in 53 patients. Out of 53 DED cases, 14 (43.8%) were males and 39 (57.4%) were females. Next we assessed the association of DED with DR and it was found 47.6% in males and 69.4% in females. In our study, the prevalence of DED was high in T2D patients and showed to have a high correlation with DR. Prevalence of DED was more in females as compared to males with DR but severity of DR was more in males as compared to females with DR. As T2D and dry eye seems to have a common association, further studies are needed to establish the underlying etiologic relationship with large sample size. Ophthalmologists may increase their role to ensure comprehensive eye care to the people by examining dry eye which is an imperative part of the evaluation of diabetic eye disease.