Ophthalmology Research: An International Journal

Aims: To evaluate tear secretion of thyroid patients with no clinical evidence of thyroid ophthalmopathy in relation to thyroid status and history of I¹³¹ treatment by the use of the 2-minute Schirmer test I (test without topical anesthesia).

Study Design: Prospective study.

Place and Duration of Study: 1^st University Eye Clinic, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece and Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, between June 2013 and July 2014.

Methodology: 128 consecutive thyroid patients, 111 females and 17 males, aged from 18 to 82 years 49.48±14.61 (mean±sd) were recruited for this study. None of the thyroid patients had clinical signs or symptoms of thyroid ophthalmopathy. 49 of them had history of I¹³¹ treatment for thyroid carcinoma. The 2-min Schirmer test I was performed on the same day the patients underwent the routine exams for thyroid hormones. As abnormal were considered Schirmer test I values <10 mm.

Results: Out of 49 thyroid patients with history of I¹³¹ therapeutic treatment, 35 (71.4%) had 2-minute Schirmer test I values <10 mm. However there was no statistically significant difference in relation to their thyroid status. Regarding patients, with no previous I¹³¹ treatment, 55 out of 79 patients (71.4%) had Schirmer test I values <10 mm and there was no statistically significant difference in relation to their thyroid status. There was no statistically significant difference in Schirmer test I values between patients who received I¹³¹ and those who did not.

Conclusion: Thyroid patients without clinical evidence of thyroid ophthalmopathy have impaired Schirmer test I scores irrespective of the thyroid status and previous I¹³¹ exposure and thus they more likely to develop ocular surface abnormalities. Patients with previous I¹³¹ treatment had no statistically significant differences in the tear secretion values as compared with the non-irradiated thyroid patients.