Correlation between signs and symptoms of dry eye disease

Supervisor: Dr.Yousef Shanti

Co-supervisor :Dr. Jamal Qaddumi

Abstract :

Objectives:To evaluate the correlation between signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) in general population in Palestine.

Methods:A cross sectional  study  of  a  769  volunteers [mean age ± SD =43.61  ±  18.57, range 15-90 ,52.7% female] was conducted in towns of Northern West Bank, from September  2015  to  January  2016 . Interviewers assessed dry eye symptoms using OSDI questionnaire in addition to six item questionnaire .Slit-lamp examination and objective dry eye assessment consisting of tear film breakup time (TBUT), fluorescein corneal staining, and Schirmer test, in addition to meibomian gland evaluation were performed. Kendall’s Tau correlations was used to study the correlation between symptoms and signs of dry eye .

Results:No significant correlation was found between symptoms (OSDI , six-item questionnaire ) and signs ( TBUT ,schirmer test , FL/S of the cornea ) of DED.

OSDI-TBUT ( r=0.014,P-value=0.067), OSDI-schirmer ( r= -0.054,P-value=0.103), OSDI-FL/S of the cornea ( r=0.44 , P-value=0.180), six-item questionnaire-TBUT           ( r=-0.038, p-value=0.289) , six-item questionnaire-schirmer( r = -0.035 , P-value=0.326), six-item questionnaire-FL/S of the cornea ( r=0.051, p-value=0.158).

Conclusion:No consistent relationship was found between common signs and symptoms of DED. Further researches to increase understanding of the  etiopathogenesis of  DED  and  to found  the  most  reliable  and  relevant  measures  of  disease  are  required   to  improve  clinical  assessment of DED and the measurement of response to therapeutic intervention.

Keywords:Correlation,  Dry  eye  disease,  Signs,  Symptom and Palestine.