דיווח עצמי ליובש בעיניים לעומת בדיקות

Introduction

Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) is defined as a chronic and progressive multifactorial disorder of the tears and ocular surface, which results in symptoms of discomfort and visual disturbance, unstable tear film and potential damage to the ocular surface (McDonald et al., 2015). In this study, we examined the correlation between self-reported dry eyes symptoms and objective tests in contact lens (CL) wearers and non-CL wearers.

Methods

Right eye of each participant was tested, using TBUT and Schirmer I (without anesthesia) tests. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) was calculated using validated questionnaire. Analysis was performed using Pearson's correlations and paired T-test.

Results

50 subjects (32 females, age range of 19-34 and mean age of 24.42±3.3), including 25 DES cases and 25 frequency age-and-sex matched controls, were recruited to the study. Classification of cases and controls was done by TBUT test, based on high correlation for eye dryness diagnosis in interim analysis. Mean Schirmer result was similar for both DES cases and controls (14.4±4.3 vs.16.3±3.8 respectively; p=0.98), as well as OSDI mean score (15.4±10.1 vs. 16.4±10.1 respectively; p=0.64). Statistically significant moderate correlations were found between TBUT and Schirmer tests among CL wearers (r=0.66; p=0.01), and low but significant correlation between OSDI with Schirmer in non-CL wearers (r=0.33; p=0.01), and between OSDI and TBUT among DES Cases (r=0.42; p=0.03).

Conclusions

There is a slight evidence for a correlation between self-report dry eyes symptoms and clinical tests in DES cases and in CL wearers but not in controls. Based on the results, dry eye symptoms may reflect to some extent objective signs in DES patients and CL wearers.

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