Ocular Surface Disease Frequency by the 5-item Dry Eye Questionnaire in Mexico City

Abstract

 

Purpose

 

To determine the frequency of ocular surface disease (OSD) symptoms in Mexico City by the 5-item Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5).

 

Methods

 

A cross-sectional, prospective study was designed, where a consecutive recruitment of subjects older than 18 years old in 3 different parts of the metropolitan area (north, center, and south) were included. Participants answered a 5-item dry eye questionnaire (DEQ-5) that has been validated for Spanish-speaking patients previously. The demographic data evaluated were: age, sex, state of residence, and contact lens wear.

 

Results

 

A total of 3,401 subjects were included. Mean age was 41.2 years old (SD±14.74, range 19-96) with 2084 (68.5%) of subjects between 20 and 55 years old. Female gender comprised a 59.85% (1990) of the sample. Mild symptomatic OSD was defined as a DEQ-5 score of ≥6 points, and severe symptoms of OSD as ≥12 points. The OSD prevalence was 66.2% by DEQ-5 (52.1% were mild and 14.1% were severe). 9.5% (350 subjects) wore contact lens.

 

Conclusions

 

OSD symptoms are frequently found in subjects living in Mexico City. This study establishes an OSD prevalence of 66.2%, with half of the sampled subjects showed a mild severity. The DEQ-5 has proved a high sensitivity for the diagnosis of ocular surface disease.

 

Keywords: 486 cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • 463 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence