Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate sex differences in dry eye diseases with regards to objective dry eye parameters and autoimmune disease.
Methods :
Dry eye patients presenting at a tertiary academic medicine center, evaluated by an ophthalmologist between 3/2015 and 7/2021 were identified using international classification of disease codes (M35.0, H16.222, H04.123, 710.2, 375.15). Patient sex at presentation was obtained using billing records and confirmed with medical record review. A total of 343 (21.0%) male and 1288 (79.0%) female patients were identified. Review of electronic medical records was conducted to evaluate demographics, objective dry eye parameters at baseline visit, autoimmune or inflammatory disease, and ocular comorbidities.
Results :
A total of 100 patients, 50 male and 50 female, were included. Mean age was 62.5 years and 81.0% self-identified as White, with no demographic differences based on sex (P>.05). There was no statistically significant difference (all P>.05) for objective dry eye parameters at baseline presentation for mean lissamine green conjunctival staining (2.8 women vs 2.5 men), corneal fluorescein staining (2.0 women vs 1.9 men), Schirmer’s test without anesthesia (9.8 women vs 11.2 men), and tear osmolarity (304.7 women vs 304.0 men). Approximately two-thirds (68% men, 66% women; P=.812) had primary dry eye without an autoimmune disease or dry eye-related ocular comorbidity. More women had an established autoimmune disease at baseline visit (14% vs 2%; P=.027), an equal number were diagnosed with an autoimmune disease during follow-up (12% women vs 8% men; P=.505).
Conclusions :
No statistically significant difference was observed with regards to demographics and objective dry eye parameters. Prevalence of existing autoimmune disease was greater in women at presentation, however diagnosis incidence during follow-up was similar, indicating autoimmune disease may be underdiagnosed in men on presentation. Additional and larger studies evaluating clinical differences of sex in dry eye patients are warranted.
This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.