Abstract
Purpose:
The subjective symptoms of conjunctivochalasis (CCh) were evaluated by use of the Dry Eye-Related Quality-of-Life Score (DEQS), which was developed as a quality of life (QOL) questionnaire for dry eye patients and a visual analogue scale (VAS). The VAS results were evaluated according to pathophysiologies, and the relationship between VAS score and QOL score was then examined.
Methods:
This study involved 42 eyes of 42 CCh patients (8 males and 34 females; mean age: 69.5±7.8 years). Subjective symptoms including dry eye sensation, difficulty in opening the eye, foreign body sensation, pain, redness, tearing, discharge, itchiness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, heavy eyelids, and eye fatigue were evaluated by use of the VAS (0: no symptoms; 100 mm: maximum symptoms). Those subjective symptoms were then divided into four groups depending on pathophysiologies [S: stability of tear film (dry eye sensation, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, eye fatigue, heavy eyelids), F: friction (difficulty in opening the eye, foreign body sensation, pain), R: reflex (redness, tearing), and T: tear turnover (discharge, itchiness)]. The 15 items related to dry eye symptoms and influence on daily life were evaluated by use of the DEQS, and overall degree of QOL impairment is calculated as a QOL score (0-100). The correlation between the Total VAS score, VAS score of each group, and QOL score were then evaluated.
Results:
A significant correlation was found between QOL score and Total VAS score, S, and F (r=0.68, 0.79, and 0.58, respectively; all: p<0.0001). No significant correlation was found between QOL score and R or T.
Conclusions:
The findings of this study showed a relationship between subjective symptoms and QOL score, and that the QOL of CCh patients is strongly determined by decreased tear film stability and increased friction during blinking.