Japan Ministry of Health Study on Prevalence of Dry Eye Disease Among Japanese High School Students

Uchino, Miki; Dogru, Murat; Uchino, Yuichi; Fukagawa, Kazumi; Shimmura, Shigeto; Takebayashi, Toru; Schaumberg, Debra A.; Tsubota, Kazuo

doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2008.06.030

« Previous Next »American Journal of Ophthalmology
Volume 146, Issue 6 , Pages 925-929.e2, December 2008

Japan Ministry of Health Study on Prevalence of Dry Eye Disease Among Japanese High School Students

Miki Uchino
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Ryogoku Eye Clinic, Tokyo, Japan
Murat Dogru
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- J and J Ocular Surface and Visual Optics Department, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Inquiries to Murat Dogru, J and J Ocular Surface and Visual Optics Department and Ophthalmology Department, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8285, Japan
Yuichi Uchino
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Ryogoku Eye Clinic, Tokyo, Japan
Kazumi Fukagawa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Ryogoku Eye Clinic, Tokyo, Japan
Shigeto Shimmura
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Ryogoku Eye Clinic, Tokyo, Japan
Toru Takebayashi
- Department of Public Health, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
Debra A. Schaumberg
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and the Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
Kazuo Tsubota
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Ryogoku Eye Clinic, Tokyo, Japan

Accepted 30 June 2008. published online 26 August 2008.

Purpose

To determine the prevalence of dry eye disease and contact lens (CL) use among Japanese private high school students.

Design

Cross-sectional prevalence survey.

Methods

We carried out a cross-sectional survey in 3,433 Japanese high school students who completed questionnaires designed to ascertain a prior diagnosis of dry eye disease and current symptoms of dry eye disease, as well as information on CL use and type of CL. We used logistic regression analysis to examine the associations between dry eye disease and CL use.

Results

Of the 3,443 high school students, 3,433 (100%) completed the questionnaires. A total of 2,848 boys and 585 girls joined and the age range was from 15 to 18 years. Clinically diagnosed dry eye disease was present in 123 boys (4.3%) and 47 girls (8.0%). Severe symptoms of dry eye disease were observed in 599 subjects in boys (21.0%) and 143 in girls (24.4%). Soft contact lens (SCL) and hard contact lens (HCL) use was 36.1% and 1.7%, respectively.

Conclusion

Dry eye disease leading to a clinical diagnosis or severe symptoms is prevalent in the studied Japanese private high school students. The condition is more prevalent among female subjects and CL wearers. Relevant measures directed against these risks could provide a positive impact on public health and quality of life of high school students.