Abstract
Purpose::
To evaluate the tear secretion of thyroid patients in relation to the disease status.
Methods::
75 consecutive thyroid patients, 70 females and 5 males, aged from 40 to 76 years (mean 52,68) were recruited for this study. 44 of them underwent thyroidectomy due to cancer or hyperthyroidism. All these patients were frequently examined (RIA methods) for their thyroid status. Most of them were under substitution or suppression treatment and some of them were free of treatment. Schirmer test (without anesthetic) was performed on the same day that the patients underwent the routine exams for thyroid hormones. Only the right eyes of the patients were included for analysis. 36 age-matched non-thyroid individuals, free of pathology affecting tear test, were examined as control group. Abnormal (impaired secretion) for classification of Schirmer test results were considered values of ≤ 5 mm in 5 min.
Results::
On the day of the tear secretion evaluation, the thyroid status of the patients was as follows: 27 were euthyroids, 34 were hypothyroids and 14 were hyperthyroids. As regards the Schirmer test, 8 out of 27 euthyroids (29,63%) had values ≤ 5 mm, 18 out of 34 hypothyroids (52,95%) had values ≤ 5 mm and 9 out of 14 hyperthyroids (64,29%) had values ≤ 5 mm. 4 individuals out of 36 in the control group (11%) had values ≤ 5 mm.
Conclusions::
Thyroid disease patients who either underwent or not thyroidectomy, either under treatment or not, are prone to eye dryness despite being euthyroids.
Keywords: cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye