Dry Eye Disease in Younger Age

Abstract

 To evaluate the personal and
environmental risk factors attributable to dry eye
disease (DED) among younger age group of
Islamabad.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 360
individuals aged 18-40 years of either sex were
screened randomly. All patients visiting outpatient
department with various symptoms and later
diagnosed to have abnormal tests and symptoms of
dry eye were included in this study. Patients having
any eye disease, systemic disease and those using
antiallergic or steroid drugs were excluded. Patient
demographics and dry eye questionnaire (DEQ) was
administered by a trained interviewer. Dry eye tests
like tear film breakup time (TBUT), corneal
fluorescein staining (CFS), Schirmers test (ST) and
slit-lamp examination for presence of conjunctival
injection, punctate epithelial erosions (PEE), lid
margins plugging and telengiectasias were used to
diagnose dry eye.
Results:There were 55.6% males and (44.4%
females. Majority were urban (72.8%). Major
constituents were students (23.3%), teachers (17.2%),
office workers (27.8%), housewives (13.9%) and
labourers (17.8%). In this study, 81(22.5%) subjects,
42(11.7%)male, 39(10.8%) female were symptomatic
defined as presence of one or more dry-eye
symptoms often or all the time. Two hundred and
two (56.1%) subjects had low TBUT, 140(38.9%) had
low ST and 180(50%) patients had abnormal
plugging or telengiectasias of lid margins. Common
symptoms were burning 59.2%, eye strain 55.5%,
watering 51.8% and fatigue 49.3%.Dry eye symptoms
were related to computer use 20(24.7%), blepharitis
19(23.4%), refractive errors 7(8.6%), contact lens use
3(3.7%), refractive surgery 1(1.2%), eye make-up use
10(12.3%), use of antiallergic medications 10(12.3%)
and smoking 11(13.5%).
Conclusion : Various environmental effects at
work are related to eye and physical symptoms
which affect quality of life. Those students who are
using computers and other screens develop dry eye
symptoms. Dry eye is a common condition
presenting to Ophthalmologists. It is
underdiagnosed and variably treated with
antiallergic /decongestants drops on empirical basis.