Peripheral Neuropathy and Tear Film Dysfunction in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract EN

Purpose.

To compare tear film metrics in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) and healthy controls and investigate the association between peripheral neuropathy and ocular surface quality.

Methods.

Dry eye symptoms were quantified in 53 patients with type 1 DM and 40 age-matched controls.

Ocular examination included tear film lipid layer thickness grading, tear film stability and quantity measurement, and retinal photography.

DM individuals additionally underwent a detailed neuropathy assessment.

Results.

Neither mean age nor dry eye symptom scores differed significantly between the DM and control groups ( P = 0.12 and P = 0.33 , resp.).

Tear lipid thickness ( P = 0.02 ), stability ( P < 0.0001 ), and quantity ( P = 0.01 ) were significantly lower in the DM group.

Corneal sensitivity was also reduced in the DM group ( P < 0.001 ) and tear film stability was inversely associated with total neuropathy score ( r = - 0.29 , P = 0.03 ).

Conclusion.

The DM group exhibited significantly reduced tear film stability, secretion, and lipid layer quality relative to the age-matched control group.

The negative correlation between tear film parameters and total neuropathy score suggests that ocular surface abnormalities occur in parallel with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.