Original Research Article Indian Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, July-September,2016;2(3): 257-262 257 Assessment of dry eye in rural hospital setting, B.G. Nagara, Karnataka Sundip Shenoy 1,* , Reagan Madan 2 1 Associate Professor, 2 PG Student, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, BG Nagara, Karnataka *Corresponding Author: Email: drsundipvision@yahoo.com Abstract Background: Dry eye is a common condition that is often under diagnosed. Normal vision requires moist healthy ocular surface. A sufficient quality of tears, normal composition of tears film, lid closure to maintain healthy ocular surface. Due to lack of uniformity in definition and inability of any single diagnostic test or set of diagnostic test to confirm or rule out the condition. There has been a shift towards symptom based assessment as a key component in clinical diagnosis with grading of severity of dry eye. Use of symptom based validated questionnaire might be beneficial as it allows grading of symptoms and is repeatable for comparative purpose before, during and after treatment. Recent advances in treatment suggests the use of lubricants, anti- inflammatory drugs, plugs to augment the tear film. Objectives: A prospective study was conducted to assess the dry eye in rural hospital setting at B.G. Nagara Karnataka with the objective to study the frequency of occurrence of dry eye and identify risk factors, correlate dry eye status with clinical tests, demographic and disease profile and devise appropriate therapy. Methods: A total of 63 cases were chosen from the outpatient department of Sri Adichunchanagiri Institute Of Medical Sciences and assessment of dry eye were made by tests like Tear breakup time, Schirmer’s, Rose Bengal dye test with prior administered Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire for subjective grading of dry eye. Results: In our study majority 31.7% patients were in the group 41-50 years. Prevalence of overall dry eye in our study was 85.7%. Prevalence was more in females as compared to males. Risk factors associated with dry eye were identified with diabetes mellitus type II being more prevalent among them. In the study Osdi questionnaire had a good reliability and consistency (p<0.001). Pearson correlation with r value among various test like Tear breakup time, Schirmer’s, Rose Bengal dye test and OSDI score showed a good correlation. Conclusion: Dry eye is a chronic disease and increase in prevalence of dry eye increases with age. Subjective tests like OSDI correlated well with objective tests in our study. Grading of dry eye helps in better management of dry eye and its complications. Keywords: Dry eye; OSDI; Rose Bengal dye test, Schirmer’s test, Tear breakup time Access this article online Website: www.innovativepublication.com DOI: 10.5958/2395-1451.2016.00055.X Introduction Dry eye is a disorder characterised by either quantitative decrease or qualitative change in precorneal film resulting in spectrum of pathological changes that may adversely affect the ocular surface resulting in ocular surface disorders often leading to conjunctival squamous metaplasia and punctate epithelial erosion of cornea. 1 Dry eye results in discomfort and visual disturbance and tear film instability with potential damage to ocular epithelial surface and accompanied by increase in tear osmolarity and inflammation. Dry eye syndrome involves multiple risk factors that when disregarded can result in treatment failure and frustration both for the patients and the physician. Dry eye may lead to increase risk of infections, medications toxicity, contact lens intolerance, progressive ocular surface disease, scarring, cornea morbidity namely keratinisation, corneal thinning, vascularisation, microbial and sterile corneal ulcer leading to perforation and severe visual loss. Hence correct diagnosis and appropriate management of dry eye is essential. 2 Due to lack of uniformity in definition and inability of any single diagnostic test or set of diagnostic test to confirm or rule out the condition. 3 There has been a shift towards symptom based assessment as a key component in clinical diagnosis with grading of severity of dry eye. Use of symptom based validated questionnaire might be beneficial as it allows grading of symptoms and is repeatable for comparative purpose before, during and after treatment. Recent advances in treatment suggests the use of lubricants, anti- inflammatory drugs, plugs to augment the tear film. Objectives 1. To assess the frequency of occurrence of dry eye in hospital setting. 2. Identify causes/risk factors of dry eye. 3. To correlate dry eye status with their clinical tests, demographic and disease profile. 4. To describe the affect of appropriate therapy on dry eye