Dry Eye Tests May Aid in Diagnosing Thyroid Disorders 

A retrospective cross-sectional chart review study shows that shorter noninvasive breakup time (NIBUT) and meibomian gland (MG) dropout equate with elevated levels of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody and anti-thyroglobulin antibody, revealing that an evaluation of NIBUT and MG may aid in diagnosing thyroid disorders. The chart review appeared in a recent issue of BMC Ophthalmology.  

Specifically, the average age and gender distribution of dry eye disease (DED) patients with or without thyroid disorders were similar (P = .391 and P=.804). That said, DED patients who had thyroid disorders had shorter NIBUT-first (P<001) and NIBUT-avg (P=.0042), and a higher MG dropout ratio (P=.001).  

Additionally, among thyroid function evaluations, elevated levels of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody and anti-thyroglobulin antibody were significantly correlated with reduced NIBUT and increased MG dropout ratio.  

Further, when the chart review’s authors used either NIBUT-first or MG dropout ratio as a predicting factor for thyroid disorders, the receiver operating characteristic curve showed a cut-off value of 5.255 (NIBUT-first area under the curve [AUC] 0.770, sensitivity 85.7%, specificity 58.8%, P<.001) and 0.229 (MG dropout ratio AUC 0.784, sensitivity 70.6%, specificity 79.6%, P<.001). Combining them garnered an AUC area of 0.841(sensitivity 88.2%, specificity 66.2%, P<.001). 

The chart review’s authors arrived at these results after assessing the charts of 99 DED patients who underwent a thyroid function screening. Inclusion was contingent on corneal fluorescein staining, Schirmer 1 test, tear meniscus height, the first NIBUT, the average NIBUT, and meibomian gland dropout ratio, which were then analyzed with thyroid function. 

The purpose of the chart review was to characterize the clinical findings in DED patients with thyroid disorders to explore their links with DED signs and symptoms.  

Read the full study here.