TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eye strain and dry eye symptoms
AU - Saldanha, Ian J.
AU - Petris, Rebecca
AU - Makara, Matthew
AU - Channa, Prabjot
AU - Akpek, Esen K.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors are grateful to all individuals who participated in this study by responding to the online survey. The authors are also grateful to Katherine A. Hammitt, M.A. for helpful suggestions and comments on an earlier version of this manuscript and to Carl A. Saldanha, M.S. M.A. for helpful suggestions and comments on initial drafts of the survey instrument. While the Dry Eye Foundation and the Sjögren's Foundation helped disseminate the survey, neither of these organizations nor any other funded this survey. M.M. is a paid employee of the Sjögren's Foundation.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
N2 - Purpose: Among adult individuals with dry eye, assess the self-reported impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on (1) dry eye-related visual function, (2) reading efficiency, and (3) dry eye treatments used. Methods: In June–July 2020, we conducted an online survey of adults with dry eye who spent at least somewhat more time at home during the pandemic than before. Consistent with TFOS DEWS II guidelines, we categorized respondents into mild, moderate, or severe dry eye based on treatment usage. Results: We included 388 respondents: 97 respondents (25%) with mild, 80 (21%) with moderate, and 211 (54%) with severe dry eye. In all three groups, screen/reading time generally doubled during the pandemic. Reduced work-related efficiency was noted by a considerable proportion of respondents (moderate dry eye: 51%, mild: 39%, and severe: 38%). Compared with respondents with mild dry eye, respondents with moderate dry eye were considerably more likely to note worsening symptoms: eye pain (OR = 2.57, 95% CI 1.22–5.41), headache from eye symptoms (OR = 2.34, 95% CI 1.11–4.90), and difficulty concentrating because of eye symptoms (OR = 2.79, 95% CI 1.37–5.66). Respondents with moderate dry eye with Sjögren's syndrome were most likely to note these. Respondents with severe dry eye were more likely than respondents with mild dry eye to report losing access to dry eye-related treatments (OR = 2.62, 95% CI 1.36–5.03). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic-related eye strain may be impacting symptoms, performance, and ultimately employment, especially for those with moderate dry eye. This may be compounding the already-high dry eye-related societal burden.
AB - Purpose: Among adult individuals with dry eye, assess the self-reported impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on (1) dry eye-related visual function, (2) reading efficiency, and (3) dry eye treatments used. Methods: In June–July 2020, we conducted an online survey of adults with dry eye who spent at least somewhat more time at home during the pandemic than before. Consistent with TFOS DEWS II guidelines, we categorized respondents into mild, moderate, or severe dry eye based on treatment usage. Results: We included 388 respondents: 97 respondents (25%) with mild, 80 (21%) with moderate, and 211 (54%) with severe dry eye. In all three groups, screen/reading time generally doubled during the pandemic. Reduced work-related efficiency was noted by a considerable proportion of respondents (moderate dry eye: 51%, mild: 39%, and severe: 38%). Compared with respondents with mild dry eye, respondents with moderate dry eye were considerably more likely to note worsening symptoms: eye pain (OR = 2.57, 95% CI 1.22–5.41), headache from eye symptoms (OR = 2.34, 95% CI 1.11–4.90), and difficulty concentrating because of eye symptoms (OR = 2.79, 95% CI 1.37–5.66). Respondents with moderate dry eye with Sjögren's syndrome were most likely to note these. Respondents with severe dry eye were more likely than respondents with mild dry eye to report losing access to dry eye-related treatments (OR = 2.62, 95% CI 1.36–5.03). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic-related eye strain may be impacting symptoms, performance, and ultimately employment, especially for those with moderate dry eye. This may be compounding the already-high dry eye-related societal burden.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Dry eye
KW - Eye strain
KW - Reading
KW - Visual function
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jtos.2021.06.004
DO - 10.1016/j.jtos.2021.06.004
M3 - Article
C2 - 34133976
AN - SCOPUS:85109435596
SN - 1542-0124
VL - 22
SP - 38
EP - 46
JO - Ocular Surface
JF - Ocular Surface
ER -