Diabetes-related dry eye disease highlighted at conference

In individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM)-related dry eye disease (DED), signs of dry eye are more common than symptoms of dry eye, according to research presented at the 2022 Women in Ophthalmology Summer Symposium highlighting the need to screen for DED in patients with diabetes even if they do not have symptoms.

A total of 663 individuals were included in this cross-sectional analysis and categorized according to those with no DM (n = 494), DM without end-organ complications (n = 102), and DM with complications (n = 67). Patients completed a medical history, filled out the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI; positive if >13), ocular pain questions: selected questions from the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory-modified for the Eye (NPSI-Eye), and underwent ocular surface clinical evaluation.

Fewer DED symptoms and ocular pain were observed in participants with DM with complications than in those without DM. There were no significant differences in tear film abnormalities between groups, however, eyelid laxity and conjunctivochalasis were significant.

Reference
Tovar A, et al. What is Diabetic Dry Eye? Presented at: 2022 Women in Ophthalmology Summer Symposium.