Abstract
This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of dry eye disease (DED) among paramedical workers at a university hospital in Korea. This cross-sectional study included 566 paramedical workers at a university hospital in Korea. Dry eye symptoms were assessed using a 9-item questionnaire, and DED was defined as having 1 or more dry eye symptoms often or all the time. A survey including demographic data and potential risk factors of DED was also performed. Psychological stress was measured using stress VAS and perceived stress scale 4 (PSS-4) questionnaires. Of the 566 paramedical workers, 232 (35 male and 197 female) completed the survey. Prevalence of DED was 42.7% (99/232). Univariate analysis revealed that female sex (P < 0.001), prolonged computer use (P = 0.003) and higher stress VAS (P < 0.001) and PSS-4 (P = 0.009) scores had significant association with DED. In multivariate analysis, DED had significant association with female sex (P = 0.003) and stress VAS (P = 0.013) after adjustment for sex, duration of computer use and stress VAS, and had significant association with female sex (P = 0.003) and durations of computer use (P = 0.029) after adjustment for sex, duration of computer use and PSS-4 score. In conclusion, DED was prevalent among paramedical workers in Korea. Its risk increased among females and workers with increased psychological stress. Prolonged use of computer was possibly associated with DED.
Highlights
dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disease that is characterized by discrepancy between dry eye symptoms and ocular surface signs, which renders the diagnosis and management of the disease difficult[2,7,8,9]
Univariate analysis showed that female sex (P < 0.001), prolonged computer use (P = 0.003) and higher stress visual analog scale (VAS) (P < 0.001) and perceived stress scale 4 (PSS-4) (P = 0.009) scores were associated with increased risk of DED
We evaluated the prevalence and risk factors of DED among paramedical workers at a hospital in Korea
Summary
DED is a multifactorial disease that is characterized by discrepancy between dry eye symptoms and ocular surface signs, which renders the diagnosis and management of the disease difficult[2,7,8,9]. A large number of studies have been conducted to evaluate the nature of DED. Hospital workers are exposed to work requiring great concentration and large amount of VDT work in relatively less humidified environment in ward or operation room, which may increase the risk of developing the dry eye symptoms. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no report on nature of DED in hospital workers in Korea. In the present study, we evaluated the prevalence and risk factors of DED among paramedical workers at a university hospital in Korea. 2. Do you feel gritty or sandy sensation in your eyes? 4. Do your eyes ever feel sticky? 5. Do your eyes ever feel watery or tearing? How often have you felt that you were unable to control the important things in your life?
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