Prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) characteristics in a large multisite US study

Session Details

Session Title: Cornea - Medical

Session Date/Time: Monday 07/09/2015 | 08:00-10:30

Paper Time: 10:01

Venue: Room 17

First Author: : C. Salinger USA

Co Author(s): :    J. Pepose                    

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To determine the prevalence of hyperosmolarity and Dry Eye Disease (DED) symptoms among consecutive subjects visiting an eye clinic.

Setting:

34 Ophthalmology clinics in USA.

Methods:

This was a non-randomized, multicentre, observational study recruiting 9446 subjects in more than 30 sites across the United States. Tear osmolarity was measured using an in-vitro diagnostic device (TearLab Osmolarity System, TearLab Corp., San Diego, CA). Osmolarity was measured in both eyes; the higher value and / or inter eye difference of > 8 mOsm/L was used in diagnosis of DED. Methods: Subjects were asked to comment on their DED signs according to a single or combination of ocular redness, burning, itching, and gritty feeling.

Results:

DED was observed in 61.3% (5792/9446) subjects and more prevalent (68.2%) in females. 46.3% (n=4375) of subjects had hyperosmolarity (>308 mOsm/L) and 15% (n=1417) had inter eye difference >8mOsm/L. DED subjects had higher mean osmolarity vs normal (318.4±17.3 vs 297.4±7.3 mOsm/L, p<.001) and inter eye difference (16.5±14.3 vs 3.6±2.4 mOsm/L, p<.001). The prevalence of hyperosmolarity varied from 62.2% to 64.2% for each symptom reported. 25.6% (n=2421) reported one symptom, 16.7% (n=1582) with two, 11.1% (n=1051) with three and 7.5% (n=708) with all four symptoms. Ocular itching was the most commonly reported symptom (n=3373; 35.7%).

Conclusions:

The results of this large prevalence study demonstrates that DED symptoms are commonly reported by subjects at US ophthalmology clinics. Osmolarity measurement provides an objective quantification of the tear film quality and instability.

Financial Interest:

One of the authors receives consulting fees, retainer, or contract payments from a company producing, developing or supplying the product or procedure presented