Prevalence And Morbidity Of Ocular Surface Symptoms In A Veteran Population

Abstract

Purpose: : To evaluate the prevalence of ocular surface symptoms and their associated morbidity in a male and female veteran population.

Methods: : : Prospective, consecutive series of patients seen in the eye clinic at the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center between June and August 2010. Patients were asked to fill out the dry eye questionnaire 5 (DEQ5) and the Impact of Dry Eye on Everyday Life (IDEEL) questionnaire. Per previously published guides, patients with a DEQ5 score of 6 to 11 were considered to have mild ocular surface symptoms; patients with a score of 12 or greater were considered to have severe ocular surface symptoms.

Results: : Five hundred and eighteen patients elected to fill out the DEQ5 questionnaire at the time of their eye clinic visit. Mean patient age was 66 years (range 23 to 95 years, standard deviation (SD) 12). Ninety four percent of patients were male and 6% of patients were female; sixty five percent were white and 34% were black. Using the DEQ5 as a surrogate measure of ocular surface symptoms, 66% of our patient population reported at least mild ocular surface symptoms (DEQ5 greater or equal to 6) and 26% reported severe symptoms (DEQ5 greater or equal to 12). Female gender was associated with an average 1.9 points higher DEQ5 score (SE 1.0, p=0.05) when controlling for age, approximately 10% of the range of the questionnaire. There was an inverse correlation between DEQ5 scores and IDEEL scores with regards to ability to perform activities of daily living (n=411, r=-0.5, p<0.001), presence of negative feelings (n=404, r=-0.63,p<0.001), and the ability to work (n=201, r=-0.54,p<0.001).

Conclusions: : A significant portion of veterans seen in the eye clinic had mild or greater ocular surface symptoms. The severity of symptoms was significantly associated with difficulty in carrying out activities of daily living, a negative emotional state, and limitations in the ability to work.

Keywords: cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • aging: visual performance