Study of dry eye disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus and its association with diabetic retinopathy in Western India

PURPOSE: The study was conducted to evaluate occurrence of dry eye disease (DED) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and its association with diabetic retinopathy (DR) in the affected patients in western India. METHODS: One hundred and five type 2 diabetic patients referred to a tertiary eye care center were consecutively selected. A detailed systemic history was evaluated. DED was assessed by Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, Schirmer’s test, tear breakup time (TBUT), and fluorescein staining of cornea and conjunctiva, graded according to the National Eye Institute workshop grading. All patients underwent detailed fundus evaluation and DR, if present, was graded according to Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy (ETDRS) criteria. RESULTS: Prevalence of DED in type 2 diabetics was 43.81% (92/210 eyes). The prevalence and severity of DED was found to be more in patients having higher glycosylated hemoglobin levels (P < 0.0001). Prevalence of DED was found to be high in those not taking any treatment (P < 0.0001). A statistically significant association was found between duration of DM and presence of DED (P = 0.02). Among the patients with DED, a majority had proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR; 57/92 eyes, 61.96%). CONCLUSION: The study highlights a significant correlation between DED and DM, and hence, examination for DED with fundus examination should be an integral part of the assessment of type 2 diabetics.