Impact of Vitamin D3 Supplementation in Non-Sjogren Dry Eye Patients With Low Serum Vitamin D Level

Dry eye disease is multifactorial, ocular inflammatory condition causing irritation, stinging sensation, uneasiness and blurring. Non-Sjogren syndrome occurs due to absent or dysfunction of lacrimal gland. Fat soluble vitamin D act as an agent against inflammation and its deficiency may result in various inflammatory diseases including dry eye. Purpose of this study is evaluation of vitamin D3 supplementation role in treating non-Sjogren dry eye along with conventional treatment by using artificial tears in patients with hypovitaminosis D. A prospective study was conducted in Rural health center(RHC) Buchal Kalan on 108 patients presenting with non-Sjogren dry eyes and low serum vitamin D levels. Patients were subjected to the following examination; best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp examination, applanation tonometry, fundoscopy, tear breakup time (TBUT) after fluorescein staining, Schirmer tear test, numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score on day 0, 15, 30, 60 and 90. Vitamin D levels was assessed by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) based analyzer. The sample was randomly divided into two groups by non-probability purposive sampling. Group 1 received only artificial tears 4times/day while group 2 were given oral vitamin D3 supplementation of 6000 international unit (IU) daily along with artificial tears. Impact of oral vitamin D3 supplementation on non-Sjogren dry eyes was assessed by comparing means of ocular parameters of both groups over different period of time by using Mann-Whitney Test and Friedman Test.