RISK FACTORS AND OUTCOME OF DRY EYE DISEASE IN EASTERN ODISHA AMONG ADULTS AGED 18 YEARS AND OLDER, A PROSPECTIVE HOSPITAL-BASED STUDY.

Ramamani  Dalai; Rajashree  Rout; Sabita  Mohanta; Kedarnath  Das

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v4i12.992

Authors

Ramamani Dalai Department of Ophthalmology, Fakir Mohan Medical College, Balasore, Odisha.
Rajashree Rout Department of Ophthalmology, SLN Medical College, Koraput.
Sabita Mohanta Department of Ophthalmology, S.C.B. Medical College, Cuttack, Odisha.
Kedarnath Das Department of Pediatrics, J.K. Medical College, Jajpur, Odisha.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v4i12.992

Keywords:

Dry Eye Disease, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca, and allergic Conjunctivitis, Allergic Conjunctivitis.

Abstract

Introduction

Dry eye disease (DED) is one of the most common chronic diseases of the ocular surface with a growing public health problem frequently encountered in ophthalmic practice.

Objective

The study aims to determine the prevalence and demographic characteristics of Dry Eye Disease (DED) and to identify and evaluate the various risk factors associated with DED in a hospital-based population.

Methods

This cross-sectional, population-based prospective study consists of 307 cases with DED of ages above 18 years attending the ophthalmology department or referred from other SCB Medical College Hospital, Cuttack in Odisha from October 2017 to September 2019.

Results

DED patients over 40 constituted 60.2% with a female-male ratio of 1.24:1. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca was commonly found in elderly of more than 40 years of age. Foreign body sensation was the most common symptom 267(86.9%). Tear film breakup time was used to assess the stability of precorneal tear film, it is a reliable and repeatable test for dry eye and is minimally invasive.

Conclusion

Dry eye is an under-diagnosed ocular disorder. DED evaluation with an appropriate questionnaire and standard tests helps in early diagnosis, appropriate management, and patient satisfaction with a better quality of life.

Recommendations

To reduce the public health effect of DED, ophthalmic examinations should include routine screening for DED in everyone over 40, especially women. Public health campaigns should educate people about DED risk factors and symptoms to encourage self-diagnosis and treatment. Adding a standardized DED questionnaire and tear film breakup time test to routine ophthalmological exams can improve early detection and patient outcomes.