Contrast Sensitivity in People with Dry Eye Disease at Tertiary…

Hikmat Ullah Afridi District Head Quarter Hospital Alpuray

Pakistan Institute of Community Ophthalmology

Dry Eye Disease, Contrast Sensitivity, Schirmer's Strips, Pell-Robson Chart, SPEED Questionnaire

Aim: To determine the effect of dry eye disease on contrast sensitivity and correlate contrast sensitivity with severity of dry eye disease.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Duration and Setting of the Study: This study was conducted from August-2019 to January-2020 in the Department of Ophthalmology Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar.

Methods: Patients with visual complaints of dry eyes were selected by non-probability convenient sampling technique. All patients underwent evaluations for inclusion and exclusion criteria. Schirmer's test was used to assess the dry eyes. A dry eye measurement of less than 15 mm was considered to be indicative of Dry Eye Disease (DED). After the Schirmer's test contrast sensitivity were measured using a Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity chart. A Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) questionnaire was used to ask about dry eye symptoms. Subjects scoring>5 are considered to be symptomatic.

Results: Forty-three participants (86 eyes) were enrolled in this study. Mean age was 35 (SD+14.22) years with 60% of them were male. The mean log contrast sensitivity was 1.67+ 0.16. Contrast sensitivity was found more reduced in eyes with mild DED as compared to the other grades. Mean contrast for mild DED was 1.66+0.17 P=0.95(>0.05). Mean log contrast sensitivity in asymptomatic subjects (n=09) was 1.70+ 0.18 and in symptomatic subjects (n=34) it was 1.67+ 0.16. (P. value=0.009).

Conclusion: Contrast sensitivity was reduced in people with dry eyes. However there was no statistically significant relation of contrast sensitivity with severity of dryness. A statistically significant relation was seen between reduced contrast sensitivity and symptomatic dry eyes.

Lecturer Optometry Pakistan Institute of Community Ophthalmology Peshawar, Pakistan

Optometrist District Head Quarter Hospital Alpuray Shangla, Pakistan