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TL;DR
This cross-sectional case-control study enrolled 44 patients with T1DM without retinopathy and 44 age-matched controls to assess tear film and meibomian gland health using a noninvasive ocular surface analyzer (OSA).
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology · 3 authors, 2 centres
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This cross-sectional case-control study enrolled 44 patients with T1DM without retinopathy and 44 age-matched controls to assess tear film and meibomian gland health using a noninvasive ocular surface analyzer (OSA).
This cross-sectional case-control study enrolled 44 patients with T1DM without retinopathy and 44 age-matched controls to assess tear film and meibomian gland health using a noninvasive ocular surface analyzer (OSA). The T1DM group demonstrated significantly higher limbal and bulbar redness, lower lipid layer thickness, tear meniscus height, and tear break-up times (both first and mean noninvasive). They also had higher percentages of meibomian gland loss, particularly in the lower eyelid. Notably, no significant differences were found between the groups in subjective dry eye symptoms as measured by the OSDI and SPEED questionnaires. The authors suggest this discrepancy may be due to reduced corneal sensitivity from diabetic neuropathy. Limitations include the cross-sectional design, which precludes causal conclusions, potential for examiner bias, and a sample size that limited subgroup analysis. The findings indicate that patients with T1DM can have significant, asymptomatic ocular surface disease requiring clinical assessment beyond symptom questionnaires.