Assessment of Anterior Segment Changes and Correlation between Film Volume and Tear Film Stability in Diabetic Patients | ||
| The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine | ||
| Article 18, Volume 101, Issue 1, October 2025, Pages 4708-4713 PDF (383 K) | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejhm.2025.456580 | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) affects the anterior segment of the eye, comprising the lacrimal functional unit, leading to decreased tear production, altered tear composition, and an increased risk of dry eye disease. Early detection of tear film abnormalities in diabetic patients is crucial to prevent ocular discomfort and complications. Objectives: This study aimed to assess anterior segment changes and evaluate the association between tear film stability and volume in diabetic cases compared to healthy controls. Patients and Methods: Cross-sectional analytic study was performed on 108 eyes, divided into two groups: 54 diabetic patients and 54 age-matched controls. All participants underwent visual acuity testing, slit-lamp examination, intraocular pressure measurement, Schirmer 1 test, tear break-up time (TBUT), blinking rate per minute (BRM), and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) for tear meniscus height (TMH). Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS. Results: Diabetic patients showed significantly lower Schirmer 1 values (13.0 ± 5.4 mm) compared to controls (16.8 ± 5.2 mm, p < 0.001) and reduced TBUT (4.81 ± 1.95 s vs 7.02 ± 1.86 s, p < 0.001). BRM was significantly higher in diabetics (16.48 ± 2.95) than controls (11.12 ± 2.46, p < 0.001). TMH was also lower in diabetics (253.67 ± 62.36 µm) compared to controls (283.56 ± 75.08 µm, p = 0.029). Significant positive associations have been observed between Schirmer 1 and TMH, and between TBUT and TMH, in both groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Diabetes significantly impairs both tear film volume and stability, increasing the risk of dry eye disease. AS-OCT is a reliable, noninvasive method for early detection of tear film abnormalities in diabetic patients. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Diabetes mellitus; tear film; Schirmer test; tear break-up time; AS-OCT | ||
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