Purpose: To determine the prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) in a tertiary ophthalmic outpatient hospital based clinic in southern Egypt.
Methods: A cross-sectional observational hospital-based study of 3128 subjects was conducted at the Ophthalmology out-patient clinic of the Sohag University Hospital, Egypt, between January 2011 and August 2013. The participants comprised adult ophthalmic outpatients aged 18 years or older. DED was assessed subjectively with the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire; and objectively with Schirmer’s test, Tear-film Break-up Time (TBUT) and conjunctival/corneal staining. An OSDI score of ≥22 with a TBUT of <10 s or Schirmer’s test reading of <10 mm were considered diagnostic of definite DED. Descriptive and analytical statistics were performed. In all comparisons, a p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Dry eye Disease prevalence was 22.8% in the 3128 subjects. DED was significantly more prevalent in subjects ≥ 45 years and in females. An OSDI score > 22 was found in 55%, TBUT <10 sec in 44.7% and schirmer test < 10m in 39.3 %. Dry eye symptoms is significantly associated with meibomian gland dysfunction, previous refractive surgery and diabetes. Definite DED was significantly associated with previous cataract surgery, ocular allergy, pterygium and diabetes.
Conclusion: This is the first observational study of DED in southern Egypt on a large sample population. The prevalence of DED among ophthalmic outpatients at Sohag University Hospital, Egypt, is 22.8% depending on both symptoms and signs. Older age and female gender are more susceptible to DED. DED is a an existing entity that can compound any eye condition causing incomplete recovery, so high index of suspicion is greatly advised.