Prevalence of Dry Eye and Its Association with Various Risk Factors in Rural Setup of Western Uttar Pradesh in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Purpose: To study the prevalence of dry eye in a hospital based population of rural setup and to evaluate its association with various risk factors. Material and Methods: In this cross sectional study, patients above 20 years of age were screened randomly for dry eye. An 8 points questionnaires, slit lamp examination of meibomian glands, tear film breakup time, fluorescein staining of cornea, schirmer test were used to diagnose dry eye. The diagnosis was made when three of the five parameters were positive. The role of various occupations as well as role of different exposure factors like sunlight, excessive wind, smoking, drugs, and air pollution as dry eye risk factors was accessed. Result: Out of 445, 45.39% patients had dry eye. Dry eye prevalence was higher in those above 70 years of age (74%). It was higher in male population (51.82%) compare to female population (37.37%), nearly equal in rural (46.04%) and urban population (44.31%) and highest among factory workers (90%). Correlation of dry eye with drugs (P = 0.0002), sunlight/high temperature (P = 0.0003) and smoking (P = 0.03) were significant. Conclusion: This is a hospital based study which provides prevalence of dry eye in rural region of western Uttar Pradesh. It is more common in old age male population and significantly higher in factory workers. Out of different modifiable risk factors most important are drugs, sunlight/high temperature and smoking. Corresponding author.