Prevalence of dry eye symptoms and risk factors in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Dry eye is a multifactorial condition of the tears and ocular surface that causes discomfort, visual disruption, and tear film instability, as well as the risk for ocular surface injury. It is accompanied by an increase in the osmolality of the tear film as well as ocular surface inflammation. Dry eye is a prevalent ocular disease that leads to ophthalmologist appointments. The prevalence of the disease varies greatly between epidemiological studies, depending on how the sickness is characterised and diagnosed, as well as depending on the sector of the population surveyed. It is expected to be between 7.4% and 33.7 percent Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was used targeting all groups of population in Aseer region. The study was conducted during 2021. Data was collected using structured questionnaire which included person’s socio-demographic data, and the OSDI (ocular surface disease index) combined with questions relevant to the target of our research ((the repetitive habitual/behavioral factors leading to Dry eye disease (DED)), and also using SAS-SV (smartphone addiction scale) in the context of users of smart phones. Results: Out of 2,527 total respondents, 694 (27.5%) have no issues related to eyes, while 1,833 (62.5%) have eye related issues. The mean (SD) of age was 29.4 (8.9) years. 67.0% were females while 33.0% were males. 22.9 % were exposed to air conditioners, 22.9% used contact lenses, 7.36 % used lubricant drops, while 6.3% live in a dry weather area. Conclusion: Dry eye illness is a prevalent ophthalmological condition with a number of clinical predictors, including the use of electronic devices and other risk factors. Teachers and health professionals should teach the students and nation about the awareness of dry eye problems. Key words: Dry eye, electronic devices, risk factors, diseases