Effect of oral vitamin D supplementation on dry eye disease patients with vitamin D deficiency

ABSTACT

Clinical relevance

Dry eye disease (DED) and vitamin D deficiency are both common clinical entities. Vitamin D has been reported to play a significant role in ocular surface homeostasis.

Background

This study aimed to determine the therapeutic effect of oral vitamin D supplementation in dry eye disease patients with vitamin D deficiency.

Methods

A randomized, controlled study was completed in 100 patients with dry eye disease and concurrent vitamin D deficiency (< 20 ng/ml). Participants were randomly allocated to 8 weeks of oral vitamin D supplementation with both groups receiving conventional dry eye treatment with artificial tears. Schirmer’s, tear break-up time (TBUT) and osmolarity tests were measured before and after eight weeks of treatment.

Results

The mean age of participants was 36.8 ± 8.56 years in the treatment group (n: 50) and 34.8 ± 10.13 year in the control group (n: 50). After eight weeks of treatment the mean differences in Schirmer’s, TBUT and tear osmolarity were 2.38 ± 1.55 mm, 3.95 ± 1.48 s and −16.9 ± 6.28 mOsm/L, respectively in the treatment group, and 0.7 ± 0.86 mm, 0.92 ± 1.57s and −3.34 ± 2.0 mOsm/L respectively in the control group (p < 0.001 for all parameters). The treatment group demonstrated a more significant improvement than the control group in Schirmer’s, TBUT and osmolarity values (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Vitamin D supplementation as an adjuvant to routine dry eye treatment improves ocular surface hemostasis parameters, results in better tear stability and a more improved tear osmolarity in patients with vitamin D deficiency.

KEYWORDS:

• Dry eye
• osmolarity
• tear break-up time
• vitamin D deficiency

Acknowledgments

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences [950617].