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.
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).