Dry Eye Disease in Younger Age

Abstract

 To evaluate the personal andenvironmental risk factors attributable to dry eyedisease (DED) among younger age group ofIslamabad.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 360individuals aged 18-40 years of either sex werescreened randomly. All patients visiting outpatientdepartment with various symptoms and laterdiagnosed to have abnormal tests and symptoms ofdry eye were included in this study. Patients havingany eye disease, systemic disease and those usingantiallergic or steroid drugs were excluded. Patientdemographics and dry eye questionnaire (DEQ) wasadministered by a trained interviewer. Dry eye testslike tear film breakup time (TBUT), cornealfluorescein staining (CFS), Schirmers test (ST) andslit-lamp examination for presence of conjunctivalinjection, punctate epithelial erosions (PEE), lidmargins plugging and telengiectasias were used todiagnose dry eye.Results:There were 55.6% males and (44.4%females. Majority were urban (72.8%). Majorconstituents were students (23.3%), teachers (17.2%),office workers (27.8%), housewives (13.9%) andlabourers (17.8%). In this study, 81(22.5%) subjects,42(11.7%)male, 39(10.8%) female were symptomaticdefined as presence of one or more dry-eyesymptoms often or all the time. Two hundred andtwo (56.1%) subjects had low TBUT, 140(38.9%) hadlow ST and 180(50%) patients had abnormalplugging or telengiectasias of lid margins. Commonsymptoms were burning 59.2%, eye strain 55.5%,watering 51.8% and fatigue 49.3%.Dry eye symptomswere related to computer use 20(24.7%), blepharitis19(23.4%), refractive errors 7(8.6%), contact lens use3(3.7%), refractive surgery 1(1.2%), eye make-up use10(12.3%), use of antiallergic medications 10(12.3%)and smoking 11(13.5%).Conclusion : Various environmental effects atwork are related to eye and physical symptomswhich affect quality of life. Those students who areusing computers and other screens develop dry eyesymptoms. Dry eye is a common conditionpresenting to Ophthalmologists. It isunderdiagnosed and variably treated withantiallergic /decongestants drops on empirical basis