RISK FACTORS FOR DRY EYE SYNDROME AMONG MILITARY PERSONNEL IN ARID CLIMATE CONDITIONS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20304193Keywords:
dry eye syndrome, military personnel, arid climate, OSDI, TBUT, Schirmer test, risk factors.Abstract
Dry eye syndrome (DES) is one of the most common ocular surface disorders, especially among individuals exposed to prolonged unfavorable environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to identify the major risk factors for dry eye syndrome among military personnel serving in arid climate conditions. A total of 1000 military personnel stationed at military bases located in hot and dry regions were examined. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI©), Schirmer test, and tear breakup time (TBUT) were used to evaluate ocular surface condition and symptoms. The prevalence of DES was found to be 28.5%. The most significant risk factors included prolonged digital screen exposure for more than 8 hours per day, exposure to dust and wind, insufficient sleep duration, and seasonal allergies. Patients with DES demonstrated significantly lower TBUT and Schirmer test values compared to the control group (p<0.001). The obtained results confirm the significant influence of arid climate and occupational factors on the development of dry eye syndrome among military personnel.References
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