Symptomatic dry eye can result in a decreased ability to perform daily activities that have an impact on the quality of life.
The peer-reviewed journal,
Eye, published The Singapore Malay Eye Study that assessed symptoms of dry eye on a population-based survey of 3280 adults aged 40-79. The assessment included questions of feeling of dryness, grittiness, burning sensation, redness, crusting of lashes, and tendency to shut the eyes.
The study participants were interviewed using a supplementary questionnaire consisting of 11 questions on vision-related daily living activities that are relevant to the local population of both genders and including near, intermediate and distance visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity. The assessment also included difficulties in activities such as navigating stairs, reading road signs, recognizing friends, watching television, reading newspapers, reading small print, driving at night, driving during daytime, cooking, playing chess/cards, and filling out forms.
Symptomatic dry eye was found to be significantly associated with difficulty in performing 7 out of 11 vision-related daily activities evaluated.
Study Summary.
What was known before this study
Dry eye is a common eye condition caused by diminished tear production or increased evaporation of tears.
It is known to affect the quality of vision because of the associated irregularity of the tear film and the optical refracting surfaces.
The effect of dry eye on daily activities has been a focus of research only recently
.
What information the Singapore Malay Eye Study added
A reported impact of symptoms of dry eye or tear dysfunction on specific vision-related daily activities in a large population-based study.
Symptomatic dry eye significantly associated with difficulty in performing vision-related daily activities,
independent of their visual acuity.
The specific activities that were significantly affected by symptomatic dry eye were navigating stairs, reading road signs, reading newspapers, cooking, recognizing friends, watching television, and driving at night.
It's interesting to note that the study found almost no gender difference among participants who experienced difficulty in reading road signs day or night (9% in men vs 13% in women). Overall more men drove at night than women; however, a greater proportion of females (31% of those who drove at night) experienced night driving difficulties compared with men.
Ellen Troyer, MT MA
Biosyntrx CEO / Chief Research Officer
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