Jebmh.com Original Research Article J. Evid. Based Med. Healthc., pISSN- 2349-2562, eISSN- 2349-2570/ Vol. 6/Issue 35/Sept. 02, 2019 Page 2393 MAGNITUDE OF DRY EYE AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS AND ITS IMPACT ON THEIR MENTAL HEALTH: A QUESTIONNAIRE BASED SURVEY Sagarika Laad 1 , Harpal Singh 2 , Satendra Singh 3 , Pragya Jain 4 , Parag Ramnani 5 , Shashank Gupta 6 , Ritu Gupta 7 , Apoorva Yadav 8 1 Senior Resident, Department of Ophthalmology, Peoples College of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. 2 Professor and HOD, Department of Ophthalmology, Peoples College of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. 3 Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Peoples College of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. 4 Senior Resident, Department of Ophthalmology, Peoples College of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. 5 Postgraduate Resident, Department of Ophthalmology, Peoples College of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. 6 Postgraduate Resident, Department of Ophthalmology, Peoples College of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. 7 Postgraduate Resident, Department of Ophthalmology, Peoples College of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. 8 Postgraduate Resident, Department of Ophthalmology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Dry eye is a common disease affecting worldwide. Dry eye is defined as a multifactorial disease of tears and ocular surface that results in discomfort, visual disturbance and tear film instability with potential damage to the ocular surface and is due to increased osmolarity of tear film and inflammation of ocular surface according to International Dry Eye Workshop (2007). Medical students are often affected with dry eyes due to use of projectors, computers for study and also due to use of mobiles. METHODS A cross sectional, questionnaire based survey was conducted among 350 medical students of our college. Proforma included demographic details, contact lens use, hours of electronic devices usage, extraocular and ocular symptoms. Dry eye was subjectively analysed by a validated questionnaire of ocular surface disease index (OSDI) and hospital anxiety and depression scale was analysed. RESULTS The mean age of student was 22.71±2.31 years. Sixty percent had symptoms of watering. Headache being the most common extraocular symptom. Out of 350, 147 had normal OSDI, 98 had mild, 50 had moderate and 55 had severe. Hours of electronic device usage were directly proportional to OSDI. Results were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Our study highlighted the problem faced by young population these days and making them aware of computer vision syndrome and also its impact on their mental health. KEYWORDS Dry Eye Disease, Medical Student, Anxiety, Depression, Computer Vision Syndrome HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Laad S, Singh H, Singh S, et al. Magnitude of dry eye among medical students and its impact on their mental health: a questionnaire based survey. J. Evid. Based Med. Healthc. 2019; 6(35), 2393-2396. DOI: 10.18410/jebmh/2019/489 BACKGROUND Dry eye disease (DED) had become a more prevalent condition affecting worldwide. It is defined as a multifactorial disease of tears and ocular surface that results in discomfort, visual disturbance and tear film instability with potential damage to the ocular surface and is accompanied by increased osmolarity of tear film and inflammation of ocular surface according to International Dry Eye Workshop (2007). 1 It is a widespread condition covering a considerable percentage of population. Prevalence of dry eye have been estimated in various studies, that varies between 5% to 30% or more in different age groups across different countries and worldwide. Approximately 25 to 30 million people are affected by dry eye all over the world. 2 Similarly, other studies have also shown that dry eye affects 3-34% of the Financial or Other, Competing Interest: None. Submission 08-08-2019, Peer Review 11-08-2019, Acceptance 26-08-2019, Published 02-09-2019. Corresponding Author: Dr. Sagarika Laad, #A-8, Shahpura, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. E-mail: sagarikalaad@gmail.com DOI: 10.18410/jebmh/2019/489