Abstract
Purpose :
Subjective symptoms of dry eye are best monitored clinically with symptom questionnaires. The SPEED is a validated instrument that has been correlated to the severity of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). The OPAS is a validated questionnaire designed to measure ocular pain stemming from any origin. Many patients treated for MGD suffer from persistent symptoms, suggesting peripheral or central neuronal sensitization may be present. This study determined whether responses on the SPEED questionnaire were correlated with OPAS responses in a population diagnosed with evaporative dry eye.
Methods :
Ninety-one patients (63 females; 27 males, average age 50.36 ± 16.38 years), diagnosed with MGD using standard structural and functional endpoints were enrolled in this IRB approved study at a private practice in Boston, MA, USA. All participants were given both the SPEED and OPAS questionnaires at a single scheduled dry eye follow up visit. Averages, standard deviations, and correlation coefficients were calculated.
Results :
The average SPEED score was 11.45 (SD 5.89) out of a possible high score of 28. The average OPAS score was 46.25 (SD 38.88) out of a possible score of 190. SPEED scores were positively correlated to pain intensity over a period of 24 hours prior to the patient’s appointment (correlation coefficient = 0.72) as well as over a period of 2 weeks prior to the appointment (correlation coefficient = 0.71). SPEED scores were positively correlated to the impact on the quality of life (correlation coefficient = 0.64) at 24 hours and 2 weeks prior to the appointment. Patients with a high SPEED score were also likely to have a high overall OPAS score at both timepoints (correlation coefficient = 0.76).
Conclusions :
Patients with a high SPEED score were likely to have a high OPAS score, indicating that patients with MGD were experiencing pain that may not be accounted for by the SPEED questionnaire. Use of the OPAS as an adjunctive questionnaire could identify patients with either nociceptive or neuropathic corneal abnormalities who may be recalcitrant to treatment. Insights into the severity of affective disorders and issues related to the quality of life uncovered by the OPAS could lead to more personalized and effective treatment plans for evaporative dry eye.
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.