Tear Film Break-Up Time: Comparison between Patients using Psychiatric Drugs and Healthy Individuals

Article history: Received: 10 Apr 2013 Accepted: 1 May 2013 Available online: 26 May 2013 ZJRMS 2014 Sep; 16(9): 86-88 Background: Ocular dryness is a well-recognized adverse side effect of many medications. The purpose of this study was to compare tear film stability between psychiatric patients that use lithium carbonate or carbamazepine and normal cases. Materials and Methods: Tear film break up time test was performed in three groups, 30 patients using lithium carbonate, 30 patients using carbamazepine and 30 normal cases. Values of the TBUTs were compared among groups by the independent t-test. Results: Differences between both of patients and control groups were significant (p<0.0001). Conclusion: The results show that these drugs contribute to decrease of tear film break up time. Copyright © 2014 Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.