Dry eye disease among patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant: a cross-sectional study

Qi-Fang Chen; Juan Yu; Han Chu; Pan Hu; Li Chen; Ting Liu; Chong-Yi Li

doi:10.18240/ijo.2023.10.08

Dry eye disease among patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant: a cross-sectional study

Int J Ophthalmol. 2023 Oct 18;16(10):1608-1615. doi: 10.18240/ijo.2023.10.08. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Qi-Fang Chen¹, Juan Yu¹, Han Chu², Pan Hu¹, Li Chen¹, Ting Liu¹, Chong-Yi Li¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ophthalmology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China.
² Center of Growth, Metabolism and Aging, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, Sichuan Province, China.

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the incidence of dry eye disease (DED) and relevant risk factors among patients infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant.

Methods: This cross-sectional, observational analysis included 993 patients with corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treated at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) Fangcang Shelter Hospital, from April 10 to May 26, 2022. Totally 944 uninfected control participants were recruited. All participants completed ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaires, and DED symptoms were determined using OSDI scores. The demographic characteristics, length of hospital stay and in nasopharyngeal swabs were performed using questionnaires. SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection was confirmed by nucleic acid-based detection in nasopharyngeal swabs using a 2019-nCoV nucleic acid detection kit. The risk factors for DED symptoms among patients with COVID-19 and control participants were determined by logistic regression analysis.

Results: Patients with COVID-19 showed a higher incidence of DED than controls (64.9% vs 55.1%, P<0.001). SARS-CoV-2 infection [odds ratios (ORs) (95%CI): 1.271 (1.038, 1.556)], use of contact lenses [ORs (95%CI): 9.350 (3.676, 23.783)], history of corneal refractive surgery [ORs (95%CI): 2.047 (1.494, 2.804)], poor sleep quality [ORs (95%CI): 2.657 (2.029, 3.480)], and video display terminal (VDT) use for more than 8h per day [ORs (95%CI): 6.348 (4.720, 8.538)] were found to be risk factors for DED symptoms in patients with COVID-19 as well as controls. For patients with COVID-19, the length of hospital stay [ORs (95%CI): 1.196 (1.134, 1.262)], use of contact lenses [ORs (95%CI): 20.423 (2.680, 155.632)], history of corneal refractive surgery [ORs (95%CI): 2.166 (1.321, 3.553)], poor sleep quality [ORs (95%CI): 3.650 (2.381, 5.597)], and VDT use for more than 8h per day [ORs (95%CI): 7.740 (4.918, 12.180)] were significant risk factors for DED symptoms.

Conclusion: Patients with COVID-19 are more prone to develop symptomatic DED. SARS-CoV-2 infection and length of hospital stay are important risk factors for DED symptoms.

Keywords: COVID-19; dry eye disease; risk factors.

International Journal of Ophthalmology Press.