Abstract
Purpose:
To compare the clinical evaluations in dry eye between men and women in China.
Methods:
This was an observational, cross-sectional, multicentre study conducted in a network of ophthalmology clinics from 16 different regions of China from May 2013 to Oct. 2013. All 2803 patients diagnosed as dry eye completed a detailed clinic questionnaire and dry eye signs including tear film break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test 1(ST-1), corneal fluorescein staining(FL), and meibomian gland evaluation were assessed. Analysis of 474 men and 479 women matched for all four different ages (<21, 21-40, 41-60 and >60 years) has been performed.
Results:
Of the 2803 patients, 944 were males (33.7%) and 1859 were females (66.3%) with mean age 44.4 ± 16.5 years. The frequency and severity of dry eye disease symptoms, impact on visual activities and OSDI score were higher among women (each P<0.05), but there was no difference in the severity of signs including TBUT(5.1 ± 2.6 s vs 5.0 ± 3.2 s), ST-1 (7.1 ± 4.9 vs 7.9 ± 6.5 mm)and FL (2.3 ± 2.3 vs 2.5 ± 2.4) between men and women. However there was no significant difference in both dry eye symptoms and signs between men and women in age-matched group. Men showed increased OSDI scores with the increase of age while there was no difference in OSDI scores among different age groups of women. Both men and women showed decreased ST-1 with the increase of age and no significance in TBUT and FL scores. There was no significant difference in symptoms, impact on visual activities and OSDI score between men and women in all four different ages (<21, 21-40, 41-60 and >60 years), while women with dry eye showed higher FL scores than men in 21-40 years group (2.4±2.3 vs 1.9±2.0, p<0.05) and shorter TBUT in 41-60 years group (4.5±3.2 vs 5.2±2.9 , p<0.05). Women reported the same incidence of psychological impact on daily life compared to men (p>0.05). The correlations between OSDI score and FL and meibomian gland evaluations were statistically significant, although weak in both men and women.
Conclusions:
Women didn’t show more severe symptoms and signs than men with dry eye in an age-matched analysis. Both men and women showed decreased ST-1 with the increase of age, but no significance in OSDI scores and other signs.<br />