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The Four Seasons of Dry Eye Disease Seasonal Variations in Presenting Symptoms and Signs of Dry Eye Disease in Norway
Author(s) -
Eidet J.R.,
Ræder S.,
Chen X.,
Badian R.,
Utheim Ø.,
utheim T.P.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2015.0683
Subject(s) - medicine , intraocular pressure , ophthalmology , meibomian gland , eyelid
Purpose To investigate the seasonal variations of presenting symptoms and signs of dry eye disease ( DED ) in Norway Methods 930 DED patients examined between August 2012 and May 2015 at the Norwegian Dry Eye Disease Clinic in Oslo, Norway, were consecutively included. All patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination. Presenting symptoms and signs were related to the season according to when each patient had been examined. Weather report data from the exact day of examination in Oslo, including mean temperature, relative humidity, hours of sunshine, and mean wind, from the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, were also compared with the presenting symptoms and signs. Results Mean seasonal temperatures for Oslo during spring, summer, fall and winter were 7°C, 16°C, 7°C, and −2°C, respectively. Compared to the rest of the year, tear film break‐up time ( TFBUT ) was highest during summer ( P < 0.001), ocular protection index ( OPI ) lowest during winter ( P = 0.013), Schirmer I lowest during summer ( P = 0.004), tear meniscus height was highest during winter ( P = 0.004), meibum quality least pathological during winter ( P = 0.001), the percentage of patients being diagnosed with meibomian gland dysfunction lowest during winter ( P < 0.001), and intraocular pressure highest during winter ( P = 0.001). Weather report data correlated the strongest with meibum quality and intraocular pressure, which both were associated with mean temperature ( r = 0.24; P < 0.001 and r = −0.21; P < 0.001). Self‐reported symptom load and dry eye severity level ( DESL ) did not differ between seasons. Conclusions Parameters for assessing DED show seasonal variations, which are important to consider when examining patients with DED . Moreover, contrary to common belief, our results suggest that meibomian gland function appears to improve during winter and with low temperatures.