The Impact of Hypothyroidism on Tear Production and Dry Eye Symptoms: Implications for Optometric Care

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of hypothyroidism on tear production and dry eye symptoms, and implications for optometric care Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at DHQ Hospital, Dera Ghazi Khan, over a period of six months.A total of 64 hypothyroid patients aged 20-60 years were selected using consecutive sampling.Data collection used the OSDI (ocular surface disease index) questionnaire, Schirmer 1 test, and tear break-up time test TBUT) to assess tear production and stability.Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to minimize confounding factors.Results: Among 64 hypothyroid patients, 40 (62.5%) reported dry eye symptoms based on OSDI scores.Schirmer 1 test showed reduced tear production (≤10mm) in 30 patients (46.9%), with a mean value of 9.1 ±3.5 mm.Tear break-up time (TBUT) was