PREVALENCE, SYMPTOM SEVERITY, AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT OF DRY EYE IN OLDER PERSONS
N/A
Keywords:
Dry Eye Symptoms, Prevalence, Severity, Symptom Management, Older AdultsAbstract
This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence, symptom severity, and symptom management of dry eye among older persons. With purposive sampling, a total of 185 older persons aged 60 years and over who met the inclusion criteria were recruited from the outpatient medical clinic of a tertiary hospital between November 2021 and May 2022. Research instruments included the 6CIT for cognitive screening, a demographic questionnaire, the Thai version of the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), and a dry eye symptom management questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
The results revealed that the prevalence of dry eye symptoms in older persons was 11.4% (n = 21). Females had higher dry eye symptoms compared to males (7.6% vs 3.8%). Symptom severity was mostly at a mild level (11.4%) with a mean OSDI score of 3.13 (SD = 4.18). The most common dry eye symptoms were light sensitivity (37.3%), grittiness (25.4%), and blurred vision (23.8%). The most common management strategy for dry eye symptoms was waiting for self-recovery (37.8%), followed by closing eyes (4.3%) and using artificial tears (1.1%). None of the participants sought medical consultation, performed warm compression, or practiced lid hygiene.
Nurses and other healthcare personnel should promote early screening for dry eye symptoms and provide proper education on symptom management, such as warm compression and proper blinking techniques. This proactive approach will help older persons receive appropriate treatment and prevent further visual complications.
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