Posters

Negative impact of dry eye disease on health status and vision-related quality of life

Poster Details

First Author: P.Hossain UK

Co Author(s):    J. Markowitz   P. Marquis   J. Meunier   C. Joseph   C. Siffel   I. Ozer Stillman     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

In Europe, the effects of dry eye disease (DED) on health-related quality of life have not been fully evaluated. This cross-sectional web-based survey was undertaken in the UK (UK) to assess the impact of DED symptoms on health-related quality of life.

Setting:

Individuals (≥18 years) with or without self-reported DED in the UK were recruited through email, screened, and consented to participate in an online survey. The aim was to recruit 1000 patients with DED and 1000 patients without DED, and match them based on age groups.

Methods:

Among the data collected in the online survey, participants with DED (who identified via self-report or endorsement of DED-specific symptoms in the screener; n=1002) or without DED (n=1003) completed demographic information, the Visual Function Questionnaire-28 revised (VFQ28-R) and the EuroQol-5-dimensions-5-levels (EQ-5D-5L). Scores for the VFQ28-R questionnaire (Activity Limitations, Socio-emotional Functioning, Total Score) were calculated for the patients with and without DED. VFQ28-R scores range from 0 to 100, with higher VFQ28-R scores indicating better functioning. For VFQ28-R scores, mean±SD (range) are presented. For EQ-5D-5L, percentage of participants endorsing each response option is presented for each item.

Results:

Mean±SD age (55±15 and 55±16 years) and sex distributions (61.8% female vs. 61.0% female) were similar for participants with or without DED, respectively. VFQ28-R scores were lower in participants with DED than without it: Activity Limitations: 73±12(28-100) vs. 84±12(8-100), Socio-emotional Functioning: 75±22(0-100) vs. 90±16(0-100), and Total Score: 72±13(30-100) vs. 84±13(20-100), respectively. Higher percentages of problems/inability to do activities were observed among those with DED than without DED: mobility 18% and 10%, self-care 8% and 3%, usual activities 15% and 8%, pain/discomfort 30% and 14%, anxiety or depression 21% and 11%, respectively.

Conclusions:

This UK survey showed a negative impact of dry eye symptoms on activities, socio-emotional functioning and general health status concepts(assessed by EQ-5D-5L-items) in participants with DED compared with those without DED. The difference in VFQ28-R scores between DED and non-DED participants was ≥11 points, i.e. more than half a standard deviation, a common distribution-based indicator of meaningfulness. To our knowledge, this is the first survey conducted in Europe to assess the burden of DED and the impact of DED symptoms on a patient’s life. Further analyses will be conducted to increase our knowledge of DED from the patients’ perspective.

Financial Disclosure:

has significant investment interest in a company producing, developing or supplying product or procedure presented, receives consulting fees, retainer, or contract payments from a competing company, receives consulting fees, retainer, or contract payments from a company producing, developing or supplying the product or procedure presented, is employed by a for-profit company with an interest in the subject of the presentation