Tear Film Osmolarity in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

• Published in: Ophthalmic research Vol. 50; no. 1; pp. 1 - 5
• Main Authors: Sağdık, H. Murat, Tetikoğlu, Mehmet, Uçar, Fatma, Uğurbaş, Sılay Cantürk, Ugurbas, Suat Hayri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.01.2013
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Blood Glucose - analysis; Case-Control Studies; Diabetes Complications - diagnosis; Diabetes Mellitus - blood; Dry Eye Syndromes - diagnosis; Dry Eye Syndromes - etiology; Female; Glycated Hemoglobin A - analysis; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Original Paper; Osmolar Concentration; Prospective Studies; Tears - chemistry; Glycosylated hemoglobin; Tear film osmolarity; Diabetes mellitus
• ISSN: 0030-3747; 1423-0259
• DOI: 10.1159/000345770

Purpose: To compare tear film osmolarity (TFO) between patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and normal healthy individuals. Methods: In this prospective case-controlled study, the TFO in 46 normal subjects (control group) and 55 patients with DM (study group) was evaluated. TFO in milliosmole (mOsm) was measured by using an auto-osmometer. The serum levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA 1 c) and blood glucose in all participants were also measured. Mean outcome measures were TFO and its relationship with HbA1c level and duration of DM. Results: Mean TFO was 320.40 ± 21.80 mOsm/l in the study group and 308.22 ± 18.16 mOsm/l in the control group (p < 0.001). The TFO values were significantly associated with duration of DM (r = 0.476, p < 0.001), but no significant correlation was found with HbA 1 c level (r = 0.225, p = 0.114). Conclusions: The study shows a significantly higher TFO in patients with DM than in the healthy controls. TFO also correlates with the duration of DM.