Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To develop and evaluate the clinical validity of a Dry Eye Quality of Life Questionnaire – DEQLQ©. Methods: Items were selected for inclusion on the DEQLQ© following completion of two focus groups and administration of the resultant list to dry eye to fifty–nine (59) mild–to–moderate dry eye patients. Item deletion and combination was performed based on patient determined frequency and importance of the 40 items listed. The remaining 15 items were stratified into categories (symptoms, activity limitations, daily efficiency, practical daily problems and social/emotional well–being) and administered as the DEQLQ© to seventy–nine (79) subjects. The study population included 30 normals and 49 moderate dry eye patients. The criteria for a positive diagnosis of moderate dry eye required patients to have a history of tear substitute use at least once a week for the past 6 months, a tear film break–up time < 5 seconds, and the presence of keratitis (a score of at least 1+ according to a standardized 0–4 point scale). The DEQLQ© consists of 15 questions, each with a scoring system ranging from 0 to 6 (0 = not troubled, 6 = extremely troubled). Results: The mean DEQLQ score in moderate dry eye patients = 35.2 (±13.5) was significantly higher than in normals = 9.1 (±10) (p–value < 0.0001). The most frequently reported symptoms in the dry eye population were dryness (67.4%), sensitivity to light (34.7%), discomfort (34.7%), and grittiness (34.7%). Daily activities that were most influenced included reading (73.5%), watching television or movies (61.2%), using a computer (36.7%), and driving (36.7%). Normals complained of tired eyes (33%) and were bothered while working at a computer (43%). Conclusions: The DEQLQ© demonstrated an ability to significantly discriminate between a population of normals and patients diagnosed with dry eye. Further research will examine the reproducibility, responsiveness, and sensitivity of the DEQLQ© to changes over time.
Keywords: cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • quality of life • cornea: clinical science