Abstract
Purpose :
The incidence, demographics, types and risk factors of dry eye disease
(DED) in developing countries are not well known. This study aimed to describe the
epidemiology of DED in patients presenting to a multi-tier ophthalmology hospital
network in India
Methods :
The data were collected using an electronic medical record system based observation cross-sectional study of 1,458,832 new patients presenting to our multi-tier ophthalmology hospital from 16th August 2010 and 31st August 2018. The demographic and clinical data of all new patients were extracted into a spreadsheet and analysed. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and multiple logistic regression were used for analysis of the data. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated for the factors associated with a higher incidence of DED
Results :
During the 8-year study period,21290 (1.46%) new patients were diagnosed with DED. The incidence of DED was 0.25% in children and 1.63% in adults (p<0.0001). In males, the incidence peaked in the 3rd and 7th decade, whereas in females the incidence peaked in the 6th decade of life. Classified based on DEWS II guidelines, 66.4% patients had symptoms and signs, 17.2% patients had signs without symptoms, 12.5% patients had symptoms without signs and 3.9% patients presented with neuropathic pain. Among patients with both signs and symptoms, 60% had mixed etiology while 31% had aqueous deficiency and 9% had evaporative dry eyes. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age (OR 9.0), professional work (OR 1.5); homemaking (OR 1.42), retirement and unemployment (OR 1.24) and socio-economic affluence (OR 1.6-3.2) were factors associated with a higher risk of DED
Conclusions :
The study results indicate that age, occupation, psychosocial disposition and socio-economic status have a significant impact for developing DED. Since DED is chronic in course and India is an emerging economy with a large ageing population, the country is on the brink of a DED epidemic
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.