Posters

Assessment of the prevalence and severity of dry eye in patients with myopia undergoing evaluation for laser in situ keratomileusis

Poster Details

First Author: D.Mathur INDIA

Co Author(s):    N. Shroff   R. Dutta   R. Shroff              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate and assess prevalence and extent of dry eye disease in patients of myopia undergoing LASIK screening.

Setting:

Cornea & Refractive Service, Shroff Eye Centre, A-9, Kailash Colony, New Delhi - 110048, India.

Methods:

1250 patients with myopia, with a mean age of 24.62 ± 3.81 years undergoing a pre-LASIK evaluation were included in the study. Assessments used were Schirmer I Test, Tear Break-up Time (TBUT), Lissamine Green and Fluoresein Staining, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) Questionnaires, Dry Eye Workshop (DEWS) severity grading.

Results:

827 patients (66.16%) were contact lens users and 416 patients (33.28%) used topical dry eye medication. Mean Schirmer test score was 14.7 mm, 581 patients (46.48%) had evidence of tear-volume deficiency (Schirmer<10 mm). The mean TBUT was 9.6 seconds. 265 patients (21.2%) had tear film instability (TBUT<5 seconds). Conjunctival (Lissamine Green) staining categorized as mild in 9.84% and moderate in 71.92% patients. The mean OSDI score was 25.6 indicating moderate ocular disability. DEWS grading was mild or episodic in 30.16%, moderate in 63.6% and severe in 9.36%. No significant correlation between Schirmer/TBUT scores and Lissamine Green/OSDI scores.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of dry eye in our population is 20 to 50% based on clinical signs and 50-70% based on symptoms. Dry eye severity was predominantly mild to moderate. Based on OSDI and DEWS severity findings, the proportion of patients requiring dry eye therapy was 3 times higher than those receiving treatment. These tests are important to screen out these patients who would be likely to suffer severe and prolonged post LASIK dry eye.

Financial Disclosure:

None