Posters

Prevalence of dry eye syndrome in adults in the rural Indian population

Poster Details

First Author: N.Patil INDIA

Co Author(s):    R. Muljiani                    

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate the population based prevalence of dry eye syndrome in rural India.

Setting:

In rural India.

Methods:

This population-based study was conducted at the rural eye centre at talwada,150 km from Mumbai,in India. Tribals and villagers from about 50 hamlets around the centre were randomly selected in the sample population of 2156. All subjects were in the age group of 40 years and above and were subjected to Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaires. Dry eye was assessed using Schirmer�â�€�™s I test without anaesthesia and tear break-up time (BUT) . Dry eye syndrome was defined as Schirmer�â�€�™s I test value of less than 10 mm and a tear break up time of less than 10 seconds

Results:

The prevalence of dry eye (on the basis of Schirmer�â�€�™s test I and tear BUT) was 22. 3% in this rural population. Out of the 481 subjects with dry eye, 55.5 % were females.

Conclusions:

Close to one quarter of the adult rural population in India suffers from dry eye syndrome. Timely detection and management should be the focus of the public health projects and thus prevent sight threatening complications.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE