Abstract
Purpose: :
This retrospective study was designed to evaluate the assessments used to diagnose Ocular Surface Disease patients and capture the severity levels of the patient’s signs and symptoms as well as the treatments that were prescribed.
Methods: :
This was a retrospective, multi-center, clinical study utilizing a chart review on consecutive patients initially diagnosed with OSD. A data collection form was used to capture a primary and any secondary diagnosis of conjunctivitis, blepharitis or dry eye. The presence of any symptoms and their severity was collected along with the tests and assessments utilized to evaluate any signs of ocular surface disease.
Results: :
A total of 1,157 patient charts were reviewed in the study at 52 centers in the United States over an eight week period. Dry eye was the most common general diagnosis (35%), followed by blepharitis (30%) and a mixed diagnosis of dry eye and blepharitis (29%). The remaining 6% were composed of patients diagnosed with conjunctivitis or other forms of OSD. Across the patient populations, ocular dryness and ocular burning or pain were the most common symptoms, and meibomian gland plugging was the most common sign. Corneal staining and meibomian gland expression were the most common assessments performed. Artificial tears and mechanical therapy (lid hygiene and warm compresses) were frequently recommended treatments, with pharmaceutical therapy also being commonly prescribed.
Conclusions: :
This retrospective study highlights the frequent occurrence of dry eye and blepharitis as the leading diagnoses among ocular surface disease patients. Additionally, there was a large overlap of patients with a diagnosis of both dry eye and blepharitis.
Keywords: cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • anterior segment • inflammation