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Several non-ocular risk factors identified with severe dry eye symptoms
U.S. veterans with severe dry eye symptoms and ocular pain at baseline and those with specific non-ocular risk factors associated with dry eye were likely to have severe dry eye symptoms at 1 year.
One hundred twenty U.S. veterans were included in a longitudinal study. Researchers evaluated the change in dry eye symptom severity for 1 year through responses to dry eye symptom questionnaires and a baseline risk factor analysis for severe dry eye symptoms.
Of the 120 patients in the study, 58 presented with either no dry eye or mild or moderate dry eye symptoms at baseline; 26 of these patients progressed to more severe dry eye symptoms at 1 year. Of the 62 patients who presented with severe dry eye symptoms at baseline, 46 reported that the symptoms persisted throughout 1 year.
The researchers used a univariable logistic regression analysis and noted that a diagnosis of sleep apnea increased the risk of severe dry eye symptoms at 1 year by 2.5-fold. Severe post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, insomnia and non-ocular pain also increased the risk of severe symptoms at 1 year.
“This study highlights the important role of pain severity and perception on severity and persistence of dry eye. Our data suggest that dry eye questionnaires should be expanded to include questions about the time course of dry eye symptoms, pain severity and neuropathic qualities,” the study authors said. – by Robert Linnehan
Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
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Ong ES, et al. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2016;doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2016.4925.