Dry eye in diabetic patients.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the prevalence of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) in a prospective cohort of 22,382 diabetic patients with that in the general population.


METHODS
Prospective, observational, cohort study.


METHODS



METHODS
A district of israel's largest health maintenance organization.


METHODS
We followed the electronic medical records of all patients in the district older than 50 years (159,634 patients) between January 1 and December 31, 2003. Of those, 22,382 (14.0%) had diabetes.


METHODS
The proportion of ocular lubrication consumers was compared among diabetic and nondiabetic patients. All HbA1c laboratory tests performed by the diabetic patients were documented (41,910 tests), and glycemic control was correlated with the consumption of ocular lubrication.


METHODS
Ocular lubrication use by diabetic patients compared with the general population and the relationship between glycemic control and ocular lubrication use.


RESULTS
After age and gender adjustment, a significantly higher percentage of diabetic patients (20.6%) received ocular lubrication, compared with nondiabetic patients (13.8%, P < .001). The difference was significant for all age groups and for both sexes (P < .001). A similar significant difference was prominent between diabetic and nondiabetic patients aged 60 to 89 years who were frequent users of ocular lubrication. Ocular lubrication consumption increased with poorer glycemic control (mean annual HbA1c levels). Multivariate analysis revealed this effect to be independent of age, sex, place of birth, or place of residence.


CONCLUSIONS
KCS is significantly more common among diabetic patients. Poor glycemic control correlates with increased artificial tear use in diabetic patients.
Kaiserman
Igor
I
Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. Igor@Dr-Kaiserman.com
Kaiserman
Nadia
N
Nakar
Sasson
S
Vinker
Shlomo
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007638:Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008153:Lubrication; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions