International Journal of General Medicine (Jun 2023)

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Symptomatic Dry Eye Disease Based on McMonnies Questionnaire Among Medical Students, Saudi Arabia; a Cross-Sectional Study

  • Aljammaz HM,
  • Aleithan WM,
  • Albalawi AM,
  • Aljayani RT,
  • Aljayani RT,
  • Aljammaz MM,
  • Alenezi SH,
  • Alreshidi S,
  • Hashem F,
  • Alali NM,
  • ALBalawi HB

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 16
pp. 2441 – 2450

Abstract

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Hanan M Aljammaz,1 Wijdan M Aleithan,1 Amal Mohammad Albalawi,2 Rabab T Aljayani,3 Rawabi T Aljayani,4 Manal M Aljammaz,5 Saad H Alenezi,6 Shaker Alreshidi,6 Faris Hashem,7 Naif M Alali,7 Hani B ALBalawi7 1Internal Medicine Department, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; 2Psychiatry Department, Eradah Mental Health Complex, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; 3Ophthalmology Department, Dammam Medical Complex, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 4Internal Medicine Department, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 5Medical Laboratory Department, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; 6Ophthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Majmaah University, Majmaah, Saudi Arabia; 7Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Faris Hashem, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, 71491, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966507001234, Fax +966144273022, Email [email protected]: Dry eye disease (DED) is a common ocular problem that worsens patients’ quality of life. This study aimed to assess DED prevalence and risk factors among medical students at the University of Tabuk.Patients and Methods: This is an analytical, cross-sectional, survey-based study. An online questionnaire was distributed by email to all medical students at the University of Tabuk. A self-administered McMonnies questionnaire was used in the assessment.Results: We included 247 medical students who completed the questionnaire. Most participants were females (71.3%) and were < 25 years old (85.8%). DED prevalence rate was 18.2% (95% CI=13.61% to 23.61%). Furthermore, DED was found to be significantly associated with the presence of irritation of eyes when waking up from sleep (OR=19.315), sleeping with partially opened eyes (OR=19.105), redness and irritation of the eyes when swimming in chlorinated fresh water (OR=7.863), and having prescription eyedrops or other dry eye treatments (OR=3.083).Conclusion: Our study at the University of Tabuk found that 18.2% of medical students had dry eye disease and identified the associated risk factors. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent complications due to the high prevalence of DED.Keywords: eye dryness, survey, DED, observational study

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