Abstract
Aim: The aim of the study is to evaluate hospital-based prevalence of dry eye in post-menopausal women, according to age, symptoms of dry eye and occupation. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 200 post-menopausal women attending ophthalmology out-patient department of SRM Medical College Hospital for 6 months. The diagnosis of dry eye was based on Schirmer’s test. The value of 15 mm is normal. The results were analyzed using the Chi-square test. Results: The prevalence of dry eye in post-menopausal women was 52%. The prevalence of dry eye increases with age from 26.8 % (50-54 years) to 85.7% (>70years). The prevalence of dry eye in patients with symptoms of dry eye was 88% and without symptoms was 30.4%. The Schirmer`s test showed majority of patients had mild dry eye (27.5%) followed by moderate dry eye in 21%. The prevalence of dry eye with outdoor occupation was 64.4% compared to 41.8% for indoors. Conclusion: The prevalence of dry eye in this study was high. Even patients without symptoms of dry eye can have subclinical dry eye. Patients with outdoor occupation had a higher prevalence of dry eye. Simple treatment with artificial tear substitutes can effectively manage mild and moderate dry eye and help post-menopausal women in improving their quality of life. It would be advisable to screen all post-menopausal women for dry eye using a simple Schirmer`s test.
Highlights
Dry Eye is defined as “A disorder of the tear film due to tear deficiency or excessive tear evaporation which causes damage to the inter-palpebral ocular surface and is associated with symptoms of ocular discomfort [1].” Dry eye is a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface characterized by a loss of homeostasis of the tear film, and accompanied by ocular symptoms, in which tear film instability and hyperosmolarity, ocular surface inflammation and damage, and neurosensory abnormalities play etiological roles [2].Hyperosmolarity can result in symptoms of ocular discomfort, dryness and vision disturbances
Aqueous deficient dry Manuscript received: 28th August 2019 Reviewed: 8th September 2019 Author Corrected: 15th September 2019 Accepted for Publication: 19th September 2019 eye is defined by the presence of normal evaporation with a reduced tear volume and is associated with lacrimal gland dysfunction
Patients with outdoor occupation had a higher prevalence of dry eye probably due to air pollution, low humidity, high temperature and sunlight exposure
Summary
Dry Eye is defined as “A disorder of the tear film due to tear deficiency or excessive tear evaporation which causes damage to the inter-palpebral ocular surface and is associated with symptoms of ocular discomfort [1].” Dry eye is a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface characterized by a loss of homeostasis of the tear film, and accompanied by ocular symptoms, in which tear film instability and hyperosmolarity, ocular surface inflammation and damage, and neurosensory abnormalities play etiological roles [2].Hyperosmolarity can result in symptoms of ocular discomfort, dryness and vision disturbances. Dry Eye is defined as “A disorder of the tear film due to tear deficiency or excessive tear evaporation which causes damage to the inter-palpebral ocular surface and is associated with symptoms of ocular discomfort [1].”. Dry eye is a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface characterized by a loss of homeostasis of the tear film, and accompanied by ocular symptoms, in which tear film instability and hyperosmolarity, ocular surface inflammation and damage, and neurosensory abnormalities play etiological roles [2]. Aqueous deficient dry Manuscript received: 28th August 2019 Reviewed: 8th September 2019 Author Corrected: 15th September 2019 Accepted for Publication: 19th September 2019 eye is defined by the presence of normal evaporation with a reduced tear volume and is associated with lacrimal gland dysfunction. Dry eye is not a disease entity, but a symptom complex which occurs due to deficiency or abnormalities of tear film
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