Affiliations 

  • 1 Ophthalmology Unit (N.A.A.), Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Seri Kembangan, Malaysia; and Department of Ophthalmology (M.-L.C.B.), UKM Medical Centre, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Selangor, Malaysia
Eye Contact Lens, 2020 Jan;46 Suppl 1:S25-S32.
PMID: 31145207 DOI: 10.1097/ICL.0000000000000623

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To assess the short-term effects of topical insulin (TI) 1 unit/drop 4 times per day for 4 weeks on the symptoms and signs of diabetic with dry eye disease (DED).

METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind interventional study, diabetics with DED aged 18 to 60 years were randomly assigned to TI or standard artificial tears (SAT). Baseline Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), Schirmer I test (ST), tear break-up time (TBUT), and ocular Sjögren's International Collaborative Clinical Alliance (SICCA) score were compared 4 weeks after treatment.

RESULTS: A total of 160 participants (involving 320 eyes) received either TI (n=80) or SAT (n=80). After 4 weeks of treatment, a significant number of participants in both TI and SAT groups showed improvement in their OSDI score, 66% and 63%, respectively (P=0.0001), but were not significantly better than each other (P=0.453). However, most participants in both groups showed worsening of ST and TBUT (P>0.05). Most of the participants in both groups showed no change in their ocular SICCA score (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: The study has shown a significant and similar improvement in the OSDI score for TI 1 unit/drop four times daily and SAT in treating diabetics with DED. Further research is required to understand the long-term effects of TI on the ocular surface.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.