Dr. Grossman’s Blog

Almost 4% of men in the United States develop dry eye disease (DED) after age 50, while almost 7.7% of men over 80 develop the disease, making it one of the most common eye conditions in the country.  By the year 2030, DED is expected to affect more than 2.79 million US men.

Typical symptoms of dry eye include dryness, grittiness, irritation, difficulty reading for long periods of time, burning and even the seeming contradiction of excessive tearing or watering.

In the study, published in June issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, researchers analyzed data on 25,444 men over the age of 50 who participated in the Physicians’ Health Study I and II.  DED was defined as the presence of clinically diagnosed dry eye or severe symptoms (both dryness and constant or frequent irritation).   About 3% reported a previous diagnosis of dry eye, while 6.8% said they had constantly or frequently experienced at least one symptom such as dryness or irritation. Roughly 2.2% reported both symptoms constantly or frequently.

Although research has shown DED is more common among women, about 1.68 million men over age 50 in the United States now have the disease.

Researchers also noted that DED risk increases with age, hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia (a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate), and antidepressant use.

Learn about vitamins and other nutritional products recommended for dry eye, and review a list of drugs that can cause dry eye symptoms at the Natural Eye Care website

SOURCE:  “Prevalence of Dry Eye Disease Among US Men,” Schaumberg, et al, Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127(6):763-768.

A new study shows that early diagnosis and treatment of dry eye syndrome in diabetic patients may help prevent problems such as scarring and perforation of the cornea and secondary bacterial infection.

Scientists at the Yazd Diabetes Research Center evaluated 199 type 2 diabetic patients for dry eye syndrome and other factors.  Of the 199 subjects, 108 patients (54.3%) were found to suffer from dry eye syndrome.

Although dry eye syndrome was more common in older and female patients, this association was not significant.  However, researchers did find a significant association between dry eye syndrome and duration of diabetes.   Researchers also noted that dry eye syndrome was more frequent in diabetic patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR). 

Study authors concluded that dry eye syndrome in diabetic patients may be a contributor for a variety of corneal complications including superficial punctuate keratopathy, trophic ulceration, and persistent epithelial defect.   The authors recommended that examination for dry eye should be an integral part of the assessment of diabetic eye disease.

Learn more about natural relief for dry eyes

Read proactive steps you can take to reduce the effects of diabetes

SOURCE:  Prevalence of dry eye syndrome and diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients, Manaviat, et al, BMC Ophthalmology 2008, 8:10doi:10.1186/1471-2415-8-10.

Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a common ocular problem in the United States, particularly among older women.

The first large-scale study of DES among U.S. women reveals that DES leading to a clinical diagnosis or severe symptoms affects more than 3.2 million American middle-aged and older women, including many in their 40s and 50s.

Researchers with Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, and Harvard Medical School surveyed 39,876 U.S. women participating in the Women’s Health Study about a history of diagnosed DES and dry eye symptoms.  DES was defined as the presence of clinically diagnosed DES or severe symptoms (both dryness and irritation constantly or often).

Results showed that the prevalence of DES increased with age, from 5.7 percent among women less than 50 years old to 9.8 percent among women 75 or older.

The age-adjusted prevalence of DES was 7.8 percent, or 3.23 million women aged 50 or older in the United States.

Other findings:

• Compared with whites, Hispanic and Asian-American women were more likely to report severe symptoms, but not clinically diagnosed DES
• There were no significant differences by income, but more educated women were less likely to have DES
• Women from the South had the highest prevalence of DES, though the magnitude of geographic differences was modest.

The authors of the study noted that further research is necessary to better understand DES and its impact on public health and quality of life.

Learn more about dry eye syndrome, including advice on treatment and nutrition.
 
Source:  Prevalence of dry eye syndrome among US women, Schaumberg, et al, Am J Ophthalmol. 2003 Aug;136(2):318-26.