Prevalence of Dry Eye Disease in Type 2 Diabetic and Non-Diabetics: A Cross-Sectional Hospital-Based Study.

Aims and objectives: Dry eye disease (DED) is a common condition that affects the quality of life of may individuals. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of DED and identify potential risk factors in adult patients seeking care at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital., Nigeria.

Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional, hospital-based study that aimed to determine the prevalence of DED in type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic patients. A total of 200 adult participants-100 with type 2 diabetes and 100 non-diabetic patients, were recruited into the study. A symptom screening standard patient evaluation for dryness questionnaire was administered and a fluorescein break-up time test was done to diagnose DED.

Results: The mean age was 61.4 years (±11.7 SD) and most were females (146, 72.86%). Using the standard patient evaluation for dryness questionnaire, 87.31% of the study participants had symptom(s) of DED. The proportion of DED in diabetics was 63.95% while in the non-diabetics was 68.37%, and this was significantly higher in the non-diabetic group (proportion difference of 16.47%, P = 0.006).The prevalence of DED as measured by the fluorescein break-up time was 55.81% (95% CI: 48.39-63.24). There was no significant difference in prevalence between diabetic and non-diabetic participants. Logistic regression analysis showed that increased duration of diabetes and age were significant predictors of DED in diabetic and non-diabetic groups, respectively.

Conclusion: The prevalence of DED was high in our study population with increasing duration of diabetes in diabetics and older age in non-diabetics significantly associated with DED.