Symptoms of ocular surface disease in construction workers: comparative study with office workers

Customized Scleral Lenses: An Alternative Tool for Severe Dry Eye Disease-A Case Series

Purpose: Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial condition significantly impacting patients' quality of life (QoL). This study aims to present a case series highlighting the effectiveness of customized scleral lenses in managing severe DED and improving patient outcomes. Methods: This case series includes three patients with severe DED refractory to conventional treatments. Customized scleral lenses were fitted for each patient, and clinical outcomes were evaluated over a period of two months. Assessments included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp examination findings, and corneal National Eye Institute (NEI) scores. Results: All three patients demonstrated significant improvements in BCVA, reductions in ocular symptoms, and enhanced ocular surface health. Patient 1, with secondary Sjögren's syndrome and suspected mucous membrane pemphigoid, showed resolution of conjunctival hyperemia and epithelial defects. Patient 2, with graft versus host disease, exhibited resolution of punctate keratitis and the absence of thread mucus. Patient 3, post-oncologic surgery, achieved complete resolution of keratoconjunctivitis sicca and the restoration of vision. Conclusions: Customized scleral lenses are a useful therapeutic option for severe DED, providing significant symptomatic relief and enhancing patients' quality of life. Their use should be considered in refractory cases to optimize ocular surface health and visual outcomes.

Prevalence of dry eye and Meibomian gland dysfunction in Central and South America: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Dry eye is one of the most common ophthalmic conditions and can significantly impact quality of life. Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a major cause of evaporative dry eye. We sought to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence and incidence of dry eye and MGD in Central and South America and to identify factors associated with disease burden.

METHODS

Data sources Ovid MEDLINE and Embase.

STUDY SELECTION

A search conducted on August 16, 2021, identified studies published between January 1, 2010, and August 16, 2021, with no restrictions regarding participant age or language of publication. Case reports, case series, case-control studies, and interventional studies were excluded.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

The review was based on a protocol registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021256934). Risk of bias was assessed in duplicate using a risk of bias tool designed for the purposes of descriptive epidemiological studies. Data were extracted by one investigator and verified by another for accuracy. Prevalence of dry eye and MGD were grouped based on study participant characteristics.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Prevalence and incidence of dry eye and MGD in Central and South America. Summary estimates from meta-analysis with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

Fourteen studies (11,594 total participants) were included. The population prevalence of dry eye was 13% (95% CI, 12%-14%) in Brazil and 41% (95% CI, 39%-44%) in Mexico based on one study each. Meta-analyses suggested that dry eye prevalence was 70% among indoor workers (95% CI, 56%-80%; I2, 82%; 3 studies), 71% among students (95% CI, 65%-77%; I2, 92%; 3 studies), and 83% in general ophthalmology clinics (95% CI, 77%-88%; I2, 88%; 2 studies). MGD prevalence ranged from 23% among indoor workers (95% CI, 16%-31%; 1 study) to 68% in general ophthalmology clinics (95% CI, 62%-72%; 1 study). No studies reported incidence of dry eye or MGD.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated considerable variation in the published prevalence of dry eye and MGD among the general population and subpopulations in Central and South America. Local and subpopulation estimates of dry eye disease burden may be valuable to assist needs assessments and implementation of measures to mitigate the condition.

The global prevalence of dry eye disease: A Bayesian view

PURPOSE

To provide estimates for the prevalence of dry eye disease globally and in sub-groups defined by: diagnostic criterion, sex, geographic location and age, using a Bayesian approach.

METHODS

Modelling prevalence as a Beta distribution, estimates were inferred from Bayesian posterior distributions obtained by combing an uninformed prior with likelihood functions generated from all relevant studies reporting dry eye prevalence between 1997 and 2021.

RESULTS

Global prevalence of dry eye disease was estimated at 11.59% (standard deviation (SD) = 0.04). For symptomatic disease, the estimate was 9.12% (SD = 0.04), with women 9.5% (SD = 0.05) and men 6.8% (SD = 0.06); prevalence was lowest in North America, 4.6% (SD = 0.03) and highest in Africa, 47.9% (SD = 1.8). For signs, prevalence was 35.2% (SD = 0.3), with woman 34.7% (SD = 0.7) and men 37.6% (SD = 0.7); North America showed the lowest regional prevalence, 3.5%, (SD = 0.4) with Eastern Asia the highest, 42.8% (SD = 0.4). Using TFOS DEWS II diagnostic criteria resulted in a global prevalence of 29.5% (SD = 0.8), with women 28.1% (SD = 1.2) and men 24.9% (SD = 1.4). Prevalence was lowest during the fifth decade, increasing approximately linearly with age thereafter. Estimates for other categories are given in accompanying tables.

CONCLUSION

A simple, flexible, yet powerful means of combining data from multiple sources to yield prevalence estimates across a range of circumstances is described, that is compatible with published guidelines for conducting meta-analysis. Estimates can be readily updated as new information emerges, or according to need. Understanding the specific characteristics of studies chosen for inclusion is critical to the validity of the outcome. Although dry eye disease is evidently common, affecting about one in 11 people world-wide, data are sparse for the young and all geographical locations except Eastern Asia.

Prevalence of Ocular Surface Disease Symptoms in High School Students in Monterrey, Mexico

PURPOSE

To determine the prevalence of dry eye disease symptoms and contact lens wear in Mexican high school students.

METHODS

A cross-sectional association study included a group of high school students who were selected from a random sampling of classrooms. The authors used the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire as a surrogate measure for dry eye disease symptoms, and contact lens wear was also investigated.

RESULTS

Seven hundred fifty-nine students with a mean age of 16.12 ± 0.96 years were surveyed and 55.7% of the students were girls (423 of 759). The average OSDI score was 25.11 ± 20.61 points. Girls had higher scores (28.25 ± 21.48 points) than boys (21.14 ± 18.74 points), and the difference was statistically significant (P < .001). Forty-three students (6.1%) wore contact lenses and had higher OSDI scores (34.26 ± 23.13 and 24.51 ± 20.31 points, respectively) and the difference was also statistically significant (P = .002).

CONCLUSIONS

Symptoms of mild and moderate dry eye disease are prevalent in high school students and, as reported in previous studies, girls are more affected than boys. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2021;58(5):287-291.].