Abstract :
Purpose: To study the prevalence of dry eye in a hospital-based population and to study the tear film parameters in dry eye patients presenting with symptoms of grittiness and foreign body sensation attending the ophthalmology outpatient department of Karpaga Vinayaka Institute of Medical Sciences, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu.
Materials and Methods: Cross Sectional study conducted in the out patient department of our department among patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of dry eyes both male and female patients consenting to the study were included.
Results: A total of 125 participants were enrolled, of these 38 had dry eye, 67 had long duration of work. 86 patients had complaints suggestive of dry eye. 38 had all 3 parameters tested abnormal. Tear film was evaluated with Schirmer test, TBUT, TMH and a proforma to record patient demographic details, symptoms, test values and dry eye diagnosis.
Conclusion: our study showed 86 participants with symptoms such as grittiness, foreign body sensation, dryness, burning sensation and 38 patients had dry eye and required treatment such as lubricants. Poor quality and function of tears, combined with subnormal ocular surface, makes patients symptomatic and on evaluation show ocular surface disease dry eye which can be treated accordingly to relieve the patient of symptoms and improve the quality of life. Thus routine and early examination of tear function and ocular surface parameters should form a part of the workup of all patients with symptoms of dry eye.
Keyword :
Dry eye, Grittiness, Schirmer test, TMH, TBUT.