DRY EYE SYNDROME IN TYPE II DIABETES MELLITUS & ITS RELATION WITH SEVERITY OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Purpose: To study the prevalence of Dry eye in Type II Diabetes mellitus and its relation with severity of Diabetic Retinopathy. Material & methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on 150 patients diagnosed with Type II Diabetes Mellitus. Ocular symptoms score of dry eye was calculated according to Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5). The following parameters were recorded: tear meniscus height (TMH), Schirmer’s test 1, tear film breakup time (TBUT), and fluorescein staining of cornea and conjunctiva. A detailed posterior segment examination was done and Diabetic retinopathy  if present was graded according to Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy (ETDRS) classification. Results: 150 patients with mean age of 55.4 ± 9.32 years were assessed out of which 77 (51.3 %) patients were diagnosed to have dry eye syndrome. There was a statistically significant association of diabetes mellitus with age, duration and poor control of diabetes mellitus with p<0.001. Sex and severity of diabetic retinopathy had no significant association with dry eye syndrome. Conclusion: This study highlights the significant correlation of dry eye syndrome with increasing age, longer duration and poor control of diabetes mellitus. Therefore, evaluation of dry eye should be included as an integral part of assessment of diabetic eye disease.