Objectives: This study determined whether the use of an N95 face mask was associated with changes in ocular surface parameters and dry eye symptomatology among healthcare workers with no baseline dry eye disease. Methodology: This was a prospective, analytical, quasi-experimental study. The ocular surface and dry eye symptomatology of 33 healthcare workers (n=66 eyes) were evaluated at baseline and 3 hours after use of 3M™ VFlex™ Particulate Respirator 9105 N95 mask (3M, Minnesota, USA). The following parameters were measured: ocular surface disease index (OSDI), tear break-up time (TBUT), tear break-up pattern (TBUP), non-invasive TBUT (NIKBUT), tear meniscus height (TMH), meibography, and bulbar conjunctival redness. Results: Among all the parameters tested, only OSDI and bulbar redness showed significant changes when pre-N95 and post-N95 values were compared. Although each was interpreted as normal, the median OSDI score improved from 7 to 1 (p < 0.001). Median bulbar conjunctival redness score worsened from 0.9 to 1.1 (p < 0.001). Conclusion Among healthcare workers with no dry eye disease, the use of the 3M™ Vflex™ Particulate Respirator 9105 N95 mask was not associated with changes in TBUT, TBUP, NIKBUT, TMH, and meibogaphy. An improvement of dry eye symptoms was reported after VFlex™ mask use.
COVID-19 ; Dry Eye Syndromes

OBJECTIVE

This study compared the proportion of dry eye disease (DED) diagnosed using the Philippine criteria with that diagnosed using the Asia Dry Eye Society (ADES) criteria among participants, and characterized DED features using clinical tests and the OCULUS Keratograph® 5M (K5M; OCULUS Optikgeräte GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany).

METHODS

This multicenter, cross-sectional study included participants with and without DED. Participants completed the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire and underwent fluorescein tear breakup time (FTBUT) measurement, fluorescein staining of the cornea, lissamine green staining of the conjunctiva, Schirmer 1 test without anesthesia, and basal tear secretion test (BST). The OCULUS K5M was used to measure noninvasive tear breakup time (NIKBUT) and tear meniscus height (TMH), and to perform meibography.

RESULTS

The analysis included 344 eyes from 172 patients with DED and 44 eyes from 22 normal participants. Patients with DED were mostly female (66.3%). Compared to normal participants, patients with DED were older (42.7 ± 14.6 years) and had higher OSDI scores (28.6 ± 21.0). Among those diagnosed with DED using the Philippine criteria, 53.2% met the ADES criteria. Evaporative DED was the predominant type (53.2%). DED eyes had lower FTBUT (5.0 ± 3.3 seconds) and NIKBUT (12.3 ± 5.9 seconds) than controls (p CONCLUSION

There were disparities between the Philippine and ADES criteria for DED diagnosis and differences in tear measurements using clinical tests and the OCULUS Keratograph, indicating the need to harmonize diagnostic standards.

Human ; Dry Eye Disease ; Dry Eye Syndromes