FUNCTIONAL STRESS AND MICROBIOTA EYE IN SUBJECTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES: A MULTI- FACTORIAL APPROACH

The authors studied functional stress in subjects with type 2 diabetes with alterations of the ocular surface. 30 diabetic patients were admitted to the study (9 males and 21 females, mean age 67 +/- 5 years), with signs and symptoms of discomfort and / or dry eye (burning, foreign body sensation, dryness and itching), with Schirmer I less than 10 mm, with break-up time test (BUT) lower at 8 seconds according to Van Bijsterveld 1 criteria. A test “measuring perceived stress” (MSP) was performed on all patients to assess the aspects of self-perceived stress aspects, “feeling stressed” derives from a widespread tool in the international arena, the Mesuredu Stress Psychologique (MSP). 30 healthy patients, workers, operators no video displays as controls were also enrolled. The analysis of individual cluster showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups with regards to only the Cluster 1 and 2 (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04 respectively). Multivariate analysis that pose as outside as the main the presence or absence of clinically significant stress, found that, controlling for age and sex, the number of shifts and the presence of positive Schirmer test are two risk factors for the development stress. Alteration of the ocular surface in diabetics can easily trigger the chronic process of functional stress changes with the microbiota of the ocular surface.