Document Type

Article

Department

Ophthalmology

Abstract

Introduction: There is increasing recognition of dry eye disease (DED) as a significant factor influencing quality of life in seemingly normal individuals. Our goal was to determine the distribution of Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores in non-clinical individuals in Karachi, Pakistan.
Methods: We distributed OSDI questionnaires to subjects aged > 18 years with no active ocular complaint. Examiners were selected from various areas of the city to administer questionnaires to students and the general population. The OSDI score was grouped as per the following: normal (0-12 points), mild (13-22 points), moderate (23-32 points), and severe (33-100 points).
Results: We surveyed 2433 individuals with a mean age of 30.7±15.6 years. Additionally, the mean OSDI score was 22.4±18.7. To estimate prevalence, we used two OSDI score cutoffs: >13 (64.4%) and >22 points (43.6%). Statistical significance was found using multivariate regression in the following variables: age (p<0.001), contact lens wear (p<0.001), ocular allergies (p<0.001), hypertension (p<0.001), diabetes (p=0.003), and smoking (p=0.047). When graphing mean age against OSDI score, there was a large jump between the third and fourth decades; thereafter, there was a steady increase. Similarly, when plotting smoking, the score was steady until five years and then there was a sharp incline.
Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of DED in the studied population. Additionally, many systemic and ocular factors were associated with this disease.

Comments

Pagination are not provided by the author/publisher

Publication

Cureus

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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