High Prevalence of Symptomatic Dry Eye Disease Among University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in University of West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago.

IF 1.4 Q3 OPHTHALMOLOGY Clinical Optometry Pub Date : 2023-01-01 DOI:10.2147/OPTO.S396135

Ngozika Ezinne, Haile W Alemu, Tarekegn Cheklie, Kingsley Ekemiri, Ryan Mohammed, Sakeem James

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Abstract

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic lockdown obligated higher education students to attend online courses, leading to prolonged exposure to digital displays. Excessive time on digital devices could be a risk factor for ocular problems, including symptomatic dry eye. There are limited evidences to show the magnitude of symptomatic dry eye disease and its associated factors during COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to fill this gap, among university students in Trinidad and Tobago.

Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students attending the University of West Indies, Saint Augustine Campus from October 2020 to April 2021. The standardized ocular surface disease index questionnaire, descriptive statics and binary logistic regression were used to assess the prevalence and associated factors of dry eye diseases. Variables with a p-value of less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.

Results: Four hundred (96.3%) participants completed the questionnaire. Among all, 64.8% were female and 50.5% were east Indians. About 48% were using visual display units for average of 10-15 hours/day. The prevalence of symptomatic dry eye disease was 84.3% (95% CI = 80.8-87.5%) with OSDI score ≥13. Lack of education about dry eye 2.69 (95% CI: 1.41-5.13), use of the reading mode of computer 3.92 (95% CI: 1.57-9.80), refractive error 3.20 (95% CI: 1.66-6.20), previous systemic medications 2.80 (95% CI: 1.15-6.81), and average hours of visual display unit use/day (p<0.001) were significantly associated with symptomatic dry eye disease.

Conclusion: Symptomatic dry eye disease was a prominent problem among students at the University of West Indies. Average of >4 hours of visual display unit use/day, refractive error, positive history of systemic medication, lack of education about dry eye, and using computers in reading mode were associated factors.

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特立尼达和多巴哥西印度群岛大学2019冠状病毒病大流行期间大学生干眼症的高患病率

背景:新冠肺炎疫情封锁迫使高等教育学生参加在线课程，导致长时间接触数字显示器。长时间使用数码设备可能是眼部问题的危险因素，包括症状性干眼症。在COVID-19大流行期间，有症状的干眼病的严重程度及其相关因素的证据有限。这项研究旨在填补这一空白，在特立尼达和多巴哥的大学生。方法:对2020年10月至2021年4月在西印度群岛大学圣奥古斯丁校区就读的本科生进行了一项基于机构的横断面研究。采用标准化眼表疾病指数问卷、描述性统计和二元logistic回归评估干眼病的患病率及相关因素。p值小于0.05的变量被认为具有统计学意义。结果:共400人(96.3%)完成问卷调查。其中64.8%为女性，50.5%为东印度人。大约48%的人使用视觉显示设备平均每天10-15小时。症状性干眼病患病率为84.3% (95% CI = 80.8 ~ 87.5%)， OSDI评分≥13。缺乏有关干眼症的教育2.69 (95% CI: 1.41-5.13)，使用电脑阅读模式3.92 (95% CI: 1.57-9.80)，屈光不全3.20 (95% CI: 1.66-6.20)，既往全身用药2.80 (95% CI: 1.15-6.81)，平均每天使用视觉显示器小时数(p结论:症状性干眼症是西印度群岛大学学生的突出问题。平均每天使用视觉显示器>4小时、屈光不正、有全身用药史、缺乏干眼症教育、在阅读模式下使用电脑是相关因素。

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来源期刊

Clinical Optometry OPHTHALMOLOGY-

CiteScore

3.00

自引率

5.90%

发文量

审稿时长

16 weeks

期刊介绍： Clinical Optometry is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal focusing on clinical optometry. All aspects of patient care are addressed within the journal as well as the practice of optometry including economic and business analyses. Basic and clinical research papers are published that cover all aspects of optics, refraction and its application to the theory and practice of optometry. Specific topics covered in the journal include: Theoretical and applied optics, Delivery of patient care in optometry practice, Refraction and correction of errors, Screening and preventative aspects of eye disease, Extended clinical roles for optometrists including shared care and provision of medications, Teaching and training optometrists, International aspects of optometry, Business practice, Patient adherence, quality of life, satisfaction, Health economic evaluations.