Prevalence of and risk factors associated with dry eye: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2011.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of and risk factors associated with dry

eye syndrome (DES) in South Korea. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: In

2010 and 2011, 11,666 subjects, ranging in age from 19 to 95, were randomly

selected as nationally representative participants in the Korea National Health

and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Subjects were divided into 2 groups:

1 with clinically diagnosed DES and 1 with symptoms of dry eye. We determined the

prevalence of and risk factors for dry eyes in a Korean population.

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL), measured by the EuroQoL-5 dimension

(EQ-5D), was evaluated in patients with dry eyes. RESULTS: The mean age was 49.9

years. The overall prevalence of diagnosed DES was 8.0% (95% confidence interval

[CI], 7.3% to 8.7%), and of dry eye symptoms the prevalence was 14.4% (95% CI,

13.1 to 15.7). Age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.8, 1.6), female (aOR = 2.8,

1.9); history of eye surgery (aOR = 2.6, 2.2); stress (aOR = 1.7, 1.6); thyroid

disease (aOR = 1.7, 1.5); and high education level (aOR = 1.6, 1.5) were common

risk factors in the groups. Subjects who had undergone ptosis, cataract or

refractive surgery were more likely to have dry eye than subjects with no history

of eye surgery. Means of pain and anxiety dimensions in the EQ-5D and the Euro

Quality of Life Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS) were significantly higher in the

group with diagnosed DES than in the normal group. CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors

were mostly similar in both groups. It is thought there are more patients with

DES who have not been diagnosed by doctors. Doctors should identify whether a

patient has any risk factors for dry eye. Patients need to be educated about the

modifiable factors of DES.