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| Prevalence of Dry Eye Syndrome in Elderly Tibetans at High Altitude: A Population Based Study in China |
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| 作者：Peng Lu(… 文章来源：1. Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China, 610041 点击数1130 更新时间：2007/5/26 21:46:31 文章录入：qinghaidavid 责任编辑：毛进 |
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| Purpose: To determine the prevalence and analyze the relationship between dry eye symptoms and sings, and identify associated risk factors for dry eye syndrome in an elderly Tibetan population at high altitude in Zeku County, China.
Methods: A population-based survey was conducted from October 2006 to December 2006. A stratified, clustered, random sampling procedure was used to select 2632 native Tibetan people aged 40 and older. Symptoms of dry eye were assessed using a six-item validated questionnaire. Dry eye syndrome was defined as having one or more symptoms often or all the time. Positive sings were if one or both eyes revealed a tear-film breakup time of≤10 seconds, or a Schirmer test score of≤5mm, or a fluorescein score ≥1. Presence of one or more of the six dry eye symptoms, dry eye signs, including tear-film breakup time, Schirmer test result and score for fluorescein staining of the cornea were analyzed. Correlations between symptoms and signs were analyzed.
Results: From a total of 2632 eligible subjects, 2229 (84.69%) were examined. Of those participants, 389 with trichiasis, lids deformities, lacrimal diseases, corneal diseases, and other diseases that might have impacts on dry eye symptoms and sings were excluded. Of the 1840 participants, 52.4% (95% confidence interval, 50.2%, 54.7%) were symptomatic. Symptomatic was defined as reporting one or more of the six dry eye symptoms often or all the time. The tear-film breakup time of ≤10 seconds in one or both eyes was 35.3% (95%confidence interval, 33.1%, 37.5%), a Schirmer test score of ≤ 5mm was 24.7% (95%confidence interval, 22.8%, 26.7%), and a fluorescein score ≥1 was 5.8% (95%confidence interval, 4.7%, 6.9%). The correlations between dry eye symptoms and the tear-film breakup time of ≤10 seconds(r=0.320, p<0.001), the Schirmer score of ≤ 5mm(r=0.331, p<0.001), and a fluorescein score ≥1 (r=0.216, p<0.001)were statistic significance. Independent risk factors for dry eye were increased age (p<0.001, OR, 2.4, 95%CI, 1.3, 4.4), pterygium (p=0.031, OR, 1.3; 95%CI 1.0, 1.7), and lower education level (p=0.002, OR, 1.1, 95%CI, 0.9, 1.5).
Conclusion: This population-based study provides a very high prevalence rate of dry eye syndrome in a Tibetan county at high altitude in China, and representing an important health problem. The dry eye signs were significantly associated with dry eye symptoms in this elderly Tibetan population.
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