MAGNITUDE OF DRY EYE AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS AND ITS IMPACT ON THEIR MENTAL HEALTH: A QUESTIONNAIRE BASED SURVEY

Abstract

Sagarika Laad, Harpal Singh, Satendra Singh, Pragya Jain, Parag Ramnani, Shashank Gupta, Ritu Gupta, Apoorva Yadav

BACKGROUND Dry eye is a common disease affecting worldwide. Dry eye is defined as a multifactorial disease of tears and ocular surface that results in discomfort, visual disturbance and tear film instability with potential damage to the ocular surface and is due to increased osmolarity of tear film and inflammation of ocular surface according to International Dry Eye Workshop (2007). Medical students are often affected with dry eyes due to use of projectors, computers for study and also due to use of mobiles. METHODS A cross sectional, questionnaire based survey was conducted among 350 medical students of our college. Proforma included demographic details, contact lens use, hours of electronic devices usage, extraocular and ocular symptoms. Dry eye was subjectively analysed by a validated questionnaire of ocular surface disease index (OSDI) and hospital anxiety and depression scale was analysed. RESULTS The mean age of student was 22.71±2.31 years. Sixty percent had symptoms of watering. Headache being the most common extraocular symptom. Out of 350, 147 had normal OSDI, 98 had mild, 50 had moderate and 55 had severe. Hours of electronic device usage were directly proportional to OSDI. Results were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Our study highlighted the problem faced by young population these days and making them aware of computer vision syndrome and also its impact on their mental health.

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