Assessment of Ocular Surface Dryness in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major public health issue related to ocular complications, including dry eye disease because of impaired tear film function and stability, particularly in cases with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR).
Aim: To improve the quality of life and vision of controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus cases with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and prevent the complications of ocular dryness cases.
Patients and methods: This cross-sectional, case-control research has been performed at the outpatient clinic, Ophthalmology Department, Suez Canal University Hospital, Ismailia, Egypt, from September 2022 to September 2023. In this study, we included 104 eyes from 52 participants and then divided them into two groups: Group A included 26 participants diagnosed with controlled T2DM with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Group B included 26 healthy controls. Results: Insignificant variances have been observed in age or gender among groups. HbA1c was significantly higher in Group A (6.55±0.54%) vs. Group B (5.25±0.26%; (p-value under 0.001). But they showed no difference. Tear Meniscus Height(TMH). was lower in Group A's left eye (0.22±0.11 millimeters versus 0.3±0.17 millimeters; p-value equal 0.037). Schirmer tests (with/without anesthesia) were significantly lower in Group A (p-value under 0.05). FCT was delayed in Group A, especially in the left eye (p=0.012).
Conclusion: Controlled T2DM patients with NPDR exhibit significant ocular surface dryness, evidenced by reduced tear production and delayed clearance, highlighting the need for early screening and management to prevent complications.