Correlation Between Androgen Levels and DryEye Parameters in Male Patients with ChronicObstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the dry eye status in men and todetermine whether the hypoandrogenic status has any concomitant impact. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 80 patients with stable COPD and healthy volunteers individually matched on the ba sis of body mass index (BMI), age, and sex. Ocular surface testing included ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire,evaluation of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), tear fluorescein break-up time (TF-BUT), ocular surface staining withlissamine green (LG), Schirmer test with topical anesthesia, and Sirius meibographic analysis of meibomian gland area (MGA)loss. Bioavailable testosterone and free testosterone were measured using the measured total testosterone (TT), albumin, andsex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels. Results: Patients with COPD had lower levels of circulating androgens, decreased TF-BUT, and lower Schirmer scoreand greater LG staining score, MGD grade, and MG area loss than healthy controls (p