Prevalence Of Dry Eye Syndrome Among Adolescent Girls In Uzbekistan: Experience Of The Republican Eye Microsurgery Center

To evaluate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of DES among adolescent girls and to assess the association with vitamin D levels.

Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Eye Microsurgery, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

The study was conducted in February–March 2025 at the Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Eye Microsurgery.

Forty adolescent girls were enrolled and divided into two groups: 20 with decreased serum vitamin D levels and 20 with normal levels. Vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) was measured in both blood serum and tear fluid.

All participants underwent Schirmer’s and Norn’s tests. Tear film parameters (tear meniscus height, NIBUT, and meibography) were assessed using the LacryDiag® system. Impression cytology of the bulbar conjunctiva was performed to evaluate epithelial morphology and goblet cell density. Additionally, more than 100 adolescents completed the OSDI questionnaire.

Adolescents with vitamin D deficiency demonstrated lower Schirmer’s test values (7–9 mm vs. 10–12 mm) and shorter Norn’s test results (5–6 s vs. 6–7 s), indicating reduced tear production and tear film instability compared to those with normal vitamin D levels.

LacryDiag assessment revealed decreased tear meniscus height, shortened NIBUT, and more pronounced meibomian gland dysfunction in the deficiency group.

Impression cytology showed reduced goblet cell density and conjunctival epithelial metaplasia. Severe DES according to OSDI was more prevalent among participants with low vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with reduced tear production, tear film instability, and early morphological changes of the ocular surface in adolescent girls. Monitoring vitamin D levels may be important in the prevention and management of DES in this population.