The Diagnostic Value and Accuracy of Conjunctival Impression Cytology, Dry Eye Symptomatology, and Routine Tear Function Tests in Computer Users

ABSTRACT Aims and Objectives: To compare the diagnostic value and accuracy of dry eye scoring system (DESS), conjunctival impression cytology (CIC), tear film breakup time (TBUT), and Schirmer's test in computer users. Methods: A case-control study was done at two referral eye centers. Eyes of 344 computer users were compared to 371 eyes of age and sex matched controls. Dry eye questionnaire (DESS) was administered to both groups and they further underwent measurement of TBUT, Schirmer's, and CIC. Correlation analysis was performed between DESS, CIC, TBUT, and Schirmer's test scores. A Pearson's coefficient of the linear expression (R 2) of 0.5 or more was statistically significant. Results: The mean age in cases (26.05 ± 4.06 years) was comparable to controls (25.67 ± 3.65 years) (P = 0.465). The mean symptom score in computer users was significantly higher as compared to controls ( P < 0.001). Mean TBUT, Schirmer's test values, and goblet cell density were significantly reduced in computer users (P < 0.001). TBUT, Schirmer's, and CIC were abnormal in 48.5%, 29.1%, and 38.4% symptomatic computer users respectively as compared to 8%, 6.7%, and 7.3% symptomatic controls respectively. On correlation analysis, there was a significant (inverse) association of dry eye symptoms (DESS) with TBUT and CIC scores (R 2 > 0.5), in contrast to Schirmer's scores (R 2 < 0.5). Duration of computer usage had a significant effect on dry eye symptoms severity, TBUT, and CIC scores as compared to Schirmer's test. Conclusion: DESS should be used in combination with TBUT and CIC for dry eye evaluation in computer users.

Download Full-text

Conjunctival impression cytology and dry eye symptoms

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3873059 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Julia Tau ◽

Isabel Marquez ◽

Rafael Iribarren ◽

Alejandro Berra

Keyword(s):

Dry Eye ◽

Impression Cytology ◽

Conjunctival Impression Cytology ◽

Eye Symptoms ◽

Dry Eye Symptoms

Download Full-text

Impact of Prolonged Face Mask Wearing On Tear Break-Up Time and Dry Eye Symptoms in Health Care Professionals

10.21203/rs.3.rs-886517/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mine Esen Baris ◽

Suzan Guven Yilmaz ◽

Melis Palamar

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Dry Eye ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Face Mask ◽

Ophthalmological Examination ◽

Eye Symptoms ◽

The Mean ◽

Break Up ◽

The Impact ◽

Dry Eye Symptoms

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the impact of prolonged surgical face mask wearing on dry eye symptoms and tear film break-up time (T-BUT) in health care professionals. Materials and Methods A total of 33 health care professionals were included in this cross sectional, prospective study. T-BUT measurements were performed twice for all participants in the morning (8 am) and in the afternoon (5 pm) in addition to a complete ophthalmological examination. The subjects also filled-in the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire twice, before and after wearing the face mask, on the same day. Results Sixty six eyes of 33 participants (17 female and 16 male) were evaluated. The mean age was 33.6 ± 7.55 (24–48) years and mean total duration with mask on between the two evaluations was 514 ± 12.5 (495–526) minutes. The mean T-BUT was 9.3 ± 1.0 (3–16) seconds at 8 am and 8.3 ± 1.5 (3–14) seconds at 5 pm (p = 0.01). The mean OSDI score was 20.1 ± 8.3 (0-68.75) at 8 am and 27.4 ± 10.4 (0-81.25) at 5 pm (p < 0.01). Conclusion Use of a surgical mask for the entire work day was seen to worsen T-BUT and dry eye symptoms in healthy individuals. Ophthalmologists should be aware of possible worsening of condition in patients with dry eye with the prolonged use of face masks and consider modifications if necessary.

Download Full-text

Provocation of Dry Eye Disease during COVID-19 Lockdown

10.21203/rs.3.rs-858036/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nutnicha Neti ◽

Pinnita Prabhasawat ◽

Chareenun Chirapapaisan ◽

Panotsom Ngowyutagon

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Status ◽

Dry Eye ◽

Dry Eye Disease ◽

Mental Health Status ◽

Eye Disease ◽

Eye Symptoms ◽

The Mean ◽

The Impact ◽

Dry Eye Symptoms

Abstract To assess the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on dry-eye symptoms in a community-based population, a cross-sectional study was conducted during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand. An online survey was distributed via social media between June and July 2020. The questionnaire elicited information on demographics, dry-eye symptoms, viewing habits, and mental health status. There were 535 respondents. Thirty-seven percent reported having been diagnosed with dry-eye disease (DED). During the lockdown, the mean dry-eye symptom score (DESS) of overall participants dropped significantly from 81.6±15.9 to 79.8±17.4 (P<0.001). The mean, daily, visual display terminal (VDT) usage increased from 10.55±5.16 hours to 13.08±5.65 hours (P<0.001). A negative correlation between age and VDT usage was observed in both the normal and lockdown situations. One-quarter of all participants had an abnormal mental health status. The female gender (OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.14–3.04) and increased VDT usage during the lockdown (OR 5.68; 95% CI 3.49–9.23) were independently associated with worsening dry-eye symptoms. The lockdown measures abruptly altered the behaviors and lifestyles of the overall population. Excessive exposure to VDTs were associated with deteriorated dry-eye symptoms, and it possibly contributed to the increased DED incidence in the general population.

Download Full-text

A clinical study on dry eye

IP International Journal of Ocular Oncology and Oculoplasty ◽

10.18231/j.ijooo.2021.034 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 173-179

Author(s):

Vijay Prakash Kinikar ◽

Yashaswi Pendyala ◽

K Vijay Kumar

Keyword(s):

Dry Eye ◽

Positive Association ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Common Symptom ◽

Impression Cytology ◽

Reliable Measure ◽

Long Term Treatment ◽

Eye Symptoms ◽

Dry Eye Symptoms ◽

Patient Department

The purpose of this study is to evaluate prevalence risk factors, symptoms, signs, objective tests of dry eye diagnosis in patients attending to Out Patient Department of Mamata General Hospital, Khammam.All patients presenting with dry eye symptoms to ophthalmology outpatient department, Mamata Medical College over a period of one and half year. A prospective study was conducted for a period of 18 months from June 2018 to Jan 2021 among patients attending ophthalmology Out Patient Department unit with symptoms of dry eye. Among the 100 patients studied, prevalence of dry eye was found to be as high as 23%.The prevalence of dry eye increased with increase in age and was significantly higher among people more than 40 years of age. Prevalence was higher among females when compared to males. Conjunctival congestion was found to be reliable sign of dry eye with a strong positive association. Foreign body sensation was found to be the most common symptom associated with dry eye. People with refractive errors, with or without history of spectacle use, had a higher incidence of dry eye compared to emmetropes. OSDI was found to be reliable measure of dry eye symptoms. Higher, scores of OSDI, indicating severe dry eye, correlated well with diagnostic tests for dry eye. TBUT test showed a high sensitivity and specificity, followed by Schirmers test and impression cytology. Impression cytology was a reliable measure for detecting ocular surface changes. Many patients showed grade 2 or 3 changes. These changes were more among those with schirmer less than 5mm. Dry eye evaluation with an appropriate and standard questionnaire along with standard tests for dry eye helps in diagnosis and treatment. This will go a long way in the effective and successful management of patients with dry eye, specially so as the disease is chronic and needs long term treatment. Early and appropriate management will provideocular comfort and satisfaction with a better quality of life.

Download Full-text

Case finding of dry eye disease in Norwegian optometric practice: a cross-sectional study

Scandinavian Journal of Optometry and Visual Science ◽

10.5384/sjovs.v14i1.131 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Ann Elisabeth Ystenæs ◽

Ingeborg Sand ◽

Vibeke Sundling

Keyword(s):

Dry Eye ◽

Contact Lens ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Case Finding ◽

Eye Disease ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Eye Symptoms ◽

The Mean ◽

Breakup Time ◽

Dry Eye Symptoms

Optometrists are primary eye care providers, and it is essential that they efficiently identify patients who will benefit from dry eye management. The aim of the study was to explore case finding of dry eye disease (DED) in optometric practice. A cross-sectional study examining dry eye symptoms and signs in 186 patients (18–70 years of age) attending a routine eye examination, with DED defined according to the criteria of the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society Dry Eye Workshop II. Standard statistical tests were used, and clinical diagnostics were explored using sensitivity, specificity, and receiveroperating curve (ROC) statistics. Fifty-six patients were contact lens wearers, and they were significantly younger than the non-contact lens wearers (mean age 35 (SD = 1) versus 48 (± 2) years). The mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in the better eye was 1.0 (± 0.1) (decimal acuity). There was no difference in BCVA between contact lens wearers and non-contact lens wearers. The mean Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score was 22 (± 19), and 138 patients had at least one positive homeostasis marker. Eighty-six had DED, 52 had signs without symptoms, and 23 had symptoms without signs of DED. The sensitivity and specificity of OSDI in detecting any positive homeostasis marker were 62% and 54%, respectively. In all, 106 patients had meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), of which 49 were asymptomatic. In a ROC analysis, an OSDI ≥ 13 showed a diagnostic ability to differentiate between patients with a fluorescein breakup time (FBUT) < 10 seconds and a fluorescein breakup time ≥ 10 seconds, but not between patients with and without staining or MGD. The majority of patients had dry eye signs and/or dry eye symptoms. Routine assessment of FBUT and meibomian glands may enable case finding of DED in optometric practice.

Download Full-text

Provocation of dry eye disease symptoms during COVID-19 lockdown

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-03887-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nutnicha Neti ◽

Pinnita Prabhasawat ◽

Chareenun Chirapapaisan ◽

Panotsom Ngowyutagon

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Status ◽

Dry Eye ◽

Visual Display ◽

Dry Eye Disease ◽

Mental Health Status ◽

Eye Disease ◽

Eye Symptoms ◽

The Mean ◽

Dry Eye Symptoms

AbstractTo assess the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on dry-eye symptoms in a community-based population, a cross-sectional study was conducted during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand. An online survey was distributed via social media between June and July 2020. The questionnaire elicited information on demographics, dry-eye symptoms, use of visual display terminals, and mental health status. There were 535 respondents. Thirty-seven percent reported having been diagnosed with dry-eye disease (DED). During the lockdown, the mean dry-eye symptom score (DESS) of overall participants dropped significantly from 81.6 ± 15.9 to 79.8 ± 17.4 (P < 0.001). The mean, daily, visual display terminal (VDT) usage increased from 10.55 ± 5.16 to 13.08 ± 5.65 h (P < 0.001). A negative correlation between age and VDT usage was observed in both the normal and lockdown situations. One-quarter of all participants had an abnormal mental health status. The female gender (OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.14–3.04) and increased VDT usage during the lockdown (OR 5.68; 95% CI 3.49–9.23) were independently associated with worsening dry-eye symptoms. The lockdown measures abruptly altered the behaviors and lifestyles of the overall population. Excessive exposure to VDTs were associated with deteriorated dry-eye symptoms, and it possibly contributed to the increased DED incidence in the surveyed population.

Download Full-text

Assessment Of Dry Eye Symptoms And Quality Of Sleep In Engineering Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic

International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences ◽

10.26452/ijrps.v11ispl1.3593 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽

pp. 1202-1207

Author(s):

Pavithra S ◽

Dheepak Sundar M

Keyword(s):

Sleep Quality ◽

Dry Eye ◽

Screen Time ◽

Engineering Students ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Quality Of Sleep ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Eye Symptoms ◽

Dry Eye Symptoms

To assess dry eye symptoms (DES) and quality of sleep in engineering students during the Covid19 pandemic lockdown and also to assess the association between DES and sleep quality. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was carried out among 396 engineering students studying in Saveetha engineering college. The study tool used was a semi-structured google form questionnaire designed for assessing digital device usage, symptoms of dry eye disease and sleep pattern. Responses were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Overall 64.1% attained a score of more than 10, indicating the presence of DES. 70.2% of the study population used digital screens for more than 13 hours. A statistically significant association was found between increased screen time and presence of DES(p<0.05). 64.9% had a score of >18 indicating reduced sleep quality. About 77.1% of the students with DES had reduced sleep quality, and a significant association (p<0.01) was observed between the two. During the Covid19 pandemic lockdown, there appears to be rising prevalence of DES in student population, one of the reasons being increased screen time. The sleep quality was also found to be reduced, and a significant association was found between DES and sleep quality.

Download Full-text