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Category: Volume 09 Issue 09 September 2021
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Title: Prevalence of Dry Eye Disease in Computer Users in Kashmir

Authors: Dr Sabia Salam, Dr Syed Sadaf Altaf, Prof. Sabia Rashid

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v9i9.21

Abstract

Background: Dry eye disease is a chronic ocular pathology and a major global health problem that manifests with a plethora of symptoms such as burning, photophobia, tearing, and grittiness. Prevalence of dry eye disease ranges from 5% to 35% and is greatly influenced by geographic location and climatic conditions. Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a leading occupational hazard of 21 century and its symptoms affect nearly about 70% of all computer users. Nearly about 60 million people suffer from CVS with 1 million new cases occurring each year.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of dry eye disease in computer users in our population and to study the relationship between computer usage per day and dry eye disease.

Methods: Computer users aged between 20-40 years of both genders were included in the study. Subjective assessment for dry eye disease was performed using Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire. All the study subjects underwent a detailed routine ophthalmologic examination including, visual acuity, anterior segment and fundus examination with a slit lamp biomicroscope. After routine ophthalmologic examination objective tests, Schirmer’s test and TBUT were performed on the subjects.

Results: The patients were in the age group of 20-40 years with mean age of 24 years with 276 (58.7%) males and 194 (41.3%) females. Presence of redness, watering of eyes, headache, eye fatigue, pain in and around the eyes, blurred vision was found to be present in 25.5%, 54%, 44.8%, 40.2% and 17.6% respectively. Patients were grouped in groups A, B, C depending on working hours of computer use per day. Group A 2-4 hrs/day, Group B 4-6 hrs/day, Group C 6-8 hrs/day. The objective tests (TBUT and Schirmer’s test) were undertaken only in patients with dry eye disease based on OSDI questionnaire. There were 72.1%, 8.3%, 12.1% and 7.4% persons having OSDI score of 0-12, 13-22, 23-32 and >33 respectively. Mean value of OSDI score was 15.3+10.08. Prevalence of dry eye disease was found to be 27.9%. Prevalence of dry eye disease was found to be 23.2%, 32.6%, 38.5% and 47.1% in the age group of 20-24 years, 25-29 years, 30-34 years and > 35 years respectively. Prevalence of dry eye disease in computer users was found to be 28.3% and 27.3% in males and females respectively. Prevalence of dry eye disease was found to be 11.9%, 26.3% and 48.1% in groups A, B and C respectively.

Conclusion: Prevalence of dry eye disease was found to increase with increase in duration of computer use per day. OSDI questionnaire is the best validated questionnaire for diagnosis and grading of DED on basis of symptoms of DED.TBUT measurement is an easy and fast method used to assess the stability of tear film.

Keywords: Dry eye disease, photophobia, Computer vision syndrome, Schirmer’s test, TBUT.

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Corresponding Author

Syed Sadaf Altaf

Senior Resident GMC Srinagar, India