Abstract
Purpose :
To analyze the changes of clinical features in dry eye patients according to Ground-level air pollution
Methods :
From January 2016 to December 2017, a prospective observational study was conducted on patients with dry eye disease (DED) who had been treated with the same ocular treatments at Gachon University Gil Hospital. Patients visited the hospital 3 times every 2 months and OSDI (ocular surface discomfort index), tear secretion (Schirmer test without anesthesia), Tear-film breakup time (TBUT), and corneal fluorescein staining score (CFSS) were measured in each visit. Air pollution data of the Ministry of the Environment were used to calculate the ground-level PM10, PM2.5, and ozone concentration for 1 day, 1 week and 1 month before the examination date based on patients’ address. The relationships between air pollutants and DED were analyzed in single-pollutant and multi-pollutant models using linear mixed model.
Results :
A total of 43 patients (12 males, 31 females) were included in the analysis. The mean age was 55.3 ± 10.5 years. In single-pollutant model, OSDI score was significantly increased with higher ozone exposure for 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month. (each p<0.01) Tear secretion was decreased with higher ozone exposure for 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month. (p=0.028/<0.001/0.009) Interestingly, higher PM10 exposure for 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month was related with decreased TBUT(p<0.01) In multi-pollutant model, OSDI score was increased with higher ozone and PM2.5 exposure for 1 day and 1 week. (each p<0.05) A similar decrease was shown in TBUT with higher PM10 exposure for 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month. (p=0.001/0.001/0.018) OSDI score, tear secretion, and CFSS were not related with PM10 exposure.
Conclusions :
The increase of ground-level ozone and PM2.5 concentration lead to ocular discomfort, and the increase of PM10 aggravated tear film stability. Mechanisms of action in DED seem to be different between ozone, PM10 and PM2.5.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.