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SMJS Volume 3 Issue 2, Page 9- Page 16
THE PREVALENCE OF DRY EYE DISEASE (DED) ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROLONGED USE OF FACE MASKS AMONG THE SAUDI POPULATION IN THE WESTERN REGION DURING THE COVID-19 ERA
Haneen Omar Alhujaili, Nada Shahat Ashmawi, Ahmed Hussain Asiree, Mohammed Saad Khoshhal, Hamad Jubair Aldhafiri, Ghadi Khalid Alsaadi
Background: Dry Eye Disease (DED) is a multifactorial disease that results in symptoms of discomfort and visual disturbance as a result of tear film instability. Different protective measures have been taken against the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus. Our main objective is to identify the prevalence of DED associated with prolonged use of face masks among the Saudi population in the western region during the COVID-19 era, as well as to assess the most common Dry Eye Disease symptoms and determining limitations accompanying Dry Eye Disease.
Method: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted from 10 August 2021 to 11 February 2022, using a newly designed electronic questionnaire and including male and female adults (18–65 years old) within the western region of Saudi Arabia, including Mecca, Medina, Jeddah, Yanbu, and Taif.
Results: Regarding the duration of wearing face masks per day, 67.1% wore a face mask 1–4 hours/ day, 29.0% for 5–9 hours/ day, and 3.9% for ≥ 10 hours/ day. The majority of participants were not diagnosed with DED (76.2%). However, 23.8% had been diagnosed.
Conclusion: The correlation between Dry Eye Disease symptoms and the duration of face mask wearing was statistically insignificant. Except between blurred vision and the daily duration of using a face mask. The majority of participants were not diagnosed with Dry Eye Disease. The most common symptoms were feeling of dryness, grittiness, and scratchiness among the participants. Also, most of the participants did not show any limitation accompanying Dry Eye Disease.
Keywords: Dry Eye Disease (DED), COVID-19, Face mask, Dryness, Blurring of Vision.
To cite this article: Alhujaili HM, Ashmawi NS, Asiree AH, Khoshhal MS, Aldhafiri HJ, Alsaadi GK. The Prevalence of Dry Eye Disease (DED) Associated with the Prolonged Use of Face Masks Among the Saudi Population in the Western Region During the COVID-19 Era. Saudi Med J Students. 2023;3(2):9-16
