Tear Osmolarity and Tear Function Changes in Patients with Acromegaly

Abstract

Purpose: Since acromegaly is a disease with various systemic complications, it may also have ophthalmologic consequences. The aim of the current study was to compare the tear osmolarity and tear function changes in patients with acromegaly with those in healthy controls.

Design: Prospective, cross-sectional study.

Materials and methods: Fifty-nine consecutive patients with acromegaly and 62 age and gender matched healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. Tear osmolarity measurement with TearLab Osmolarity System (Tearlab, San Diego, CA), tear film break-up time (TBUT) assessment, and the Schirmer test without anesthesia were performed in the same order in each group. Growth hormone (GH) and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF1) levels were also determined in the study group.

Results: The mean TBUT was lower in acromegalic patients (9.1 ± 3.6 seconds) than in healthy controls (10.7 ± 2.9 s) (p = 0.009). The difference between the two groups in tear osmolarity and Schirmer test results (p = 0.08 and p = 0.9, respectively) was not statistically different.

Conclusions: Acromegaly may a cause a decrease in TBUT in the affected patient. Preservation of normal tear osmolarity and normal Schirmer test results suggests that this might be due to effects on the meibomian glands.

Keywords:

• Acromegaly
• dry eye
• tear function
• tear osmolarity

Declaration of Interest

The authors have no financial or proprietary interest to disclose. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported.