Ethnic differences between the Asian and Caucasian ocular surface: A co-located adult migrant population cohort study

Abstract

PurposeTo investigate the ethnic differences in tear film quality, ocular surface parameters, and dry eye symptomology between co-located Asian and Caucasian populations. MethodsTwo hundred and six participants (103 East Asian and 103 Caucasian) were recruited in an age and gender-matched cross-sectional study. Dry eye symptomology, ocular surface parameters, and tear film quality were evaluated for each participant within a single clinical session. ResultsThe mean ± SD age of the 206 participants (82 male, 124 female) was 45 ± 16 years. Overall, a greater proportion of Asian participants were symptomatic of dry eye and fulfilled the TFOS DEWS II dry eye diagnostic criteria than Caucasian participants (74% versus 51%, p = 0.002), with an odds ratio (95% CI) of 2.7 (1.5–4.8) times. Poorer OSDI scores, tear film stability, lipid layer quality, tear osmolarity, lid wiper epitheliopathy, meibomian gland dropout, and expressed meibum quality were observed in the Asian group (all p < 0.05). A significantly higher proportion of participants exhibited incomplete blinking in the Asian group than the Caucasian group (81% versus 45%, p < 0.001). ConclusionsAsian participants exhibited more severe dry eye signs and symptoms than Caucasian participants. The poorer meibomian gland function and higher degree of incomplete blinking observed among Asian participants may potentially contribute towards the ethnic predisposition towards dry eye development.