Randomly sampling survey of dry eye awareness in general eye clinic

Objective: To determine the dry eye awareness in the populations visiting general eye clinic. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire about dry eye was designed and administrated to Peking University Third Hospital General Eye Clinic patients (n=804) from June 2010 to June 2011. The questionnaire contents included general demographic characteristics, experience of health-related work, past medical history, medication history and ocular surface symptoms associated with dry eye, contact lens wearing, ocular operation history, etc. Chi-square and Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the influence of demographic and clinical features on awareness of dry eye. Results: Awareness of "dry eye" in the general eye clinical patients was relatively low (26.9%, 216/804). Participants whose age were between 40 and 60 years had better dry eye awareness (41.7%, 73/175) (χ²=27.365, P=0.000). Dry eye awareness of female was better than that of male[female: 33.8% (151/447), male: 18.2% (65/357), χ²=24.500, P=0.000]. Those who had been in health-related work (71.4%, 30/42), and whose friends or relatives were ophthalmologists (54.7%, 52/95) had better dry eye awareness (χ²=31.582, 36.400; both P < 0.01). Participants with a history of rheumatoid arthritis(7/10) or diabetes mellitus(63.0%, 17/27) had better dry eye awareness (χ²=32.301, 29.887; both P < 0.01). Those who had been using artificial tears(77.5%, 31/40), oral contraceptives (9/14), diuretics (10/18), sedatives (70.4%, 19/27) and anti-depression drugs (4/4) had better dry eye awareness (χ²=54.928, 10.154, 7.713, 26.912, 10.943; all P < 0.01). Except frequently blinking(29.5%), participants who had ocular irrigating symptoms (all > 33.0%) had better awareness than those who had not(χ²=7.831-32.522, all P < 0.01). Those who were allergic to environment irritating factors (all > 30.0%) had better awareness (χ²=5.033-24.564, all P < 0.01). Participants who had medical history of ocular surgery (47.2%, 34/72), experience of wearing contact lens(33.2%, 94/283), who were diagnosed as dry eye (100.0%, 45/45) and who had regular ocular examinations (31.0%, 96/310) had better awareness (χ²=4.321-129.763, all P < 0.01). Those who had visited general practitioners(14.8%, 16/108) had lower awareness than those who went to hospital of higher level (28.7%, 200/696) (χ²=9.324, P=0.002). The result of binary logistic regression analysis showed that gender, health-related working experience, relatives or friends working as Ophthalmologists, using artificial tears, oral contraceptives and sedatives, ocular irritations or environment sensitivity, eye surgeries and wearing contact lens were factors that affected dry eye awareness (OR > 1.000, P < 0.10). Conclusions: Dry eye awareness in the population who visit general eye clinic is low. The knowledge of dry eye should be added to the patient education and public popularization.