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Dry eye disease symptoms alone insufficient for diagnosis
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SAN FRANCISCO — Dry eye disease is likely more prevalent than assumed because patients can exhibit few or no symptoms but still have disease, according to a study presented here.
“About 50% of patients in the general practice have mild to severe dry eye disease,” Marguerite B. McDonald, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
Marguerite B. McDonald
In an interim analysis of the TearLab Prevalence Study, a phase 4 survey being conducted at 126 sites across the U.S., 8,457 sequentially selected patients were asked about the presence of binary symptoms, including fluctuating vision, contact lens discomfort, light sensitivity, watery eyes, tired eyes, redness, burning, itching and sensation of sand or grit. Demographics and medical history were also assessed.
At least one dry eye disease symptom was reported in 81% of patients. One to three symptoms were reported in 52%, and four to nine symptoms were reported in 29%. Only 19% of patients reported having no symptoms.
When testing for the prevalence of dry eye disease using osmolarity, 48% of patients had hyperosmolarity. Of the asymptomatic patients, 44% had hyperosmolarity.
“Symptoms alone are insufficient to diagnose dry eye disease,” McDonald said. “Many subjects exhibit little or no symptomotalogy but have dry eye disease.”
High-quality artificial tears are effective for many types of dry eye disease when patients are compliant, she said. Some patients have low osmolarity when first tested because they put in artificial tears earlier in the day. Therefore, it is important to find out whether a patient has used artificial tears prior to testing, she said.
Disclosure: McDonald is a consultant for TearLab.