The Impact of Hypothyroidism on Tear Production and Dry Eye Symptoms: Implications for Optometric Care
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71000/t9dkvc35Keywords:
Dry eye, Hypothyroidism, Tear film, TBUT test, Schirmer’s testAbstract
BACKGROUND: Dry eye symptoms that impair visual comfort and day-to-day functioning are frequently caused by hypothyroidism, which also results in decreased tear production and an unstable tear film.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of hypothyroidism on tear production and dry eye symptoms: implications for optometric care.
METHODOLOGY: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at DHQ Hospital, Dera Ghazi Khan, over six months. A total of 64 hypothyroid patients aged 20-60 years were selected using consecutive sampling. data collection uses the OSDI (ocular surface disease index) questionnaire, Schirmer 1 test, and tear break-up time test TBUT to assess tear production and stability. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to minimize confounding factors.
RESULTS: Among 64 hypothyroid patients, 40 (62.5%) reported dry eye symptoms based on OSDI scores. Schirmer 1 test showed reduced tear production (≤10mm) in 30 patients (46.9%), with a mean value of 9.1 ±3.5 mm. Tear break-up time (TBUT) was <10 seconds in 38 patients (59.4%), indicating tear film instability, with a mean TBUT of 8.4±2.7 seconds. The Chi-square test showed a statistically significant association between hypothyroidism and dry eye (p=0.012). Females were more affected, comprising 81,2% (n=52) of the sample. These findings suggest a strong link between hypothyroidism and dry eye.
CONCLUSION: Dry eye symptoms are common in hypothyroid patients and are closely associated with decreased tear production. For efficient, individualized treatment, a thorough evaluation that goes beyond tear film stability is necessary.
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