# Prevalence and Risk Factors of Dry Eye Syndrome Among Medical Students in the Northern Philippines: A Cross-Sectional Survey

## TL;DR

This study found that 82% of medical students in the northern Philippines suffer from dry eye syndrome, with stress, vision problems, and being female as key risk factors.

## Contribution

The study provides the first data on dry eye syndrome prevalence and its risk factors among medical students in the northern Philippines.

## Key findings

- 82.20% of the 236 medical students had dry eye syndrome based on the OSDI questionnaire.
- Female sex, error of refraction, and psychological stress were significantly correlated with higher OSDI scores.
- 97.87% of students experienced psychological stress, which directly increased their dry eye symptoms.

## Abstract

Introduction

Dry eye syndrome (DES) accounts for the majority of ophthalmological consultations and should be considered a high-priority health concern. DES can be progressive and has significant consequences for an individual's vision and quality of life. This study aims to fill the information gap regarding the prevalence and risk factors of DES among medical students at Saint Louis University (SLU) in the northern part of the Philippines during the "New Normal" period.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 236 medical students. The dependent variable, the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), and independent variables were assessed using a questionnaire created with Google Forms (Google, Inc., Mountain View, CA). The Perceived Stress Scale-4 (PSS-4) was used to determine the level of stress of the students. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used to determine the risk factors associated with the OSDI scores of the participants.

Results

The prevalence of DES, as determined by the OSDI questionnaire, was 194 out of 236 (82.20%). The mean OSDI score of the cohort was 30.16 ± 6.99, with a 95% confidence level. This study revealed that the factors of sex, error of refraction (EOR), and psychological stress showed significant correlations with the OSDI score, as determined by Chi-square analysis with p-values of 0.013, 0.001, and 0.006, respectively. The female sex and those with errors of refraction (EOR) had a higher risk of developing DES. There is also a direct relationship between psychological stress and DES. The higher the perceived psychological stress, the higher the OSDI score. Psychological stress among the students was at 231/236 (97.87%).

Conclusion

Dry eye syndrome is increasingly recognized as a significant health issue among young individuals due to the increasingly demanding nature of their lifestyles. This study identified a high prevalence of dry eye syndrome among medical students with female sex, error of refraction, and a high level of perceived stress as the significant risk factors. A longitudinal study involving different medical schools in the country, including clinical tests for DES, is recommended to better elucidate the relationship among the various risk factors. The results of this study serve as a basis for crafting policies to increase awareness, modify risk factors, and implement appropriate preventive measures.