Dry Eye Disease: An Overview of Its Risk Factors, Diagnosis, and Prevalence by Age, Sex, and Race

Abstract

This short review focuses on the significance and prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) in the arena of ophthalmology. DED can be identified as one of the most common optical morbidities affecting about one-fourth of the patients visiting ophthalmology clinics. The perception of the cytology and disease evolution of DED has shown a noteworthy advancement in the last decade by recognizing two diverse mechanisms of the disease: tear desertion and deficient tear production. The role of these two components independently or concurrently in the prevalence of DED was also understood. Several studies in different parts of the world have projected that DED is more common in women as compared to men and this difference increases with ageing. Aged people, especially women in the menopausal and post-menopausal stages, are more prone to DED. This ailment is more prevalent in patients suffering from autoimmune diseases with a higher percentage of women getting affected. Various everyday activities as well as social and dietary behaviors like smoking might set off DED symptoms. Extensive visual tasking while using a computer, watching television, and doing a lot of reading also increase the risk of DED. Although DED occurs in all age groups, it is seen in very few children in comparison to adults. In fact, DED in children may be related to diverse factors such as congenial, inflammatory, and autoimmune disorders as well as environmental conditions and nutritional deficiencies. A significant relationship has also been found between DED and racial differences among individuals. A few studies have suggested that the Asian population is more susceptible to DED as compared to the Caucasian population, but this concept needs further research and investigation. Climatic conditions and environmental challenges, such as relative humidity (RH), internal atmosphere, effluence, travel by air, and intense temperatures, are equally important in the occurrence of DED. The present review aims to examine the prevalence of DED in relation to age, sex, and race by analyzing several relevant studies and also have an overview of the diagnosis and risk factors of the disease. Copyright © 2024, Deo et al.