Dry Eye Disease Treatment Following Refractive Surgery Among Young Patients: A Population-Based Study
Published 2024 - 42nd Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PO1109 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/w6y8-wf77
Authors: Itay Nitzan 1 , Dan Heller 2 , Michael Mimouni 3 , Margarita Safir* 4
1Department of Ophthalmology,Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center,Jerusalem,Israel;Faculty of Medicine, Department of Military Medicine,Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel,Jerusalem,Israel, 2Faculty of Medicine, Department of Military Medicine,Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel,Jerusalem,Israel, 3Department of Ophthalmology,Rambam Health Care Campus,Haifa,Israel, 4Department of Ophthalmology,Shamir Medical Center,Zerifin,Israel
Purpose
To evaluate the demand for dry eye disease (DED) lubricating eye drop treatment following refractive surgery among a nationally representative group of young patients.
Setting
Medical Corps, Israel Defence Forces
Methods
This study involved Israeli adolescents and young adults aged 16 to 20 years who underwent pre-conscription medical evaluations from 2011 to 2019. Refractive surgery status was determined based on personal medical records. Lubricating eye drop usage was monitored through computerized dispensation data over a three-year mandatory military service period. Regression models, stratified by sex and adjusted for sociodemographic variables, were used in the analysis.
Results
Among 591,919 individuals (57.4% male, mean age 17.2), 4,571 (0.8%) underwent refractive surgery. Lubricating eye drop usage was observed in 1.4% of men and 2.3% of women, with higher proportions in the refractive surgery group (4.0% vs. 1.4% and 9.5% vs. 2.3% for men and women, respectively; p<0.001). Post-surgery, both sexes exhibited increased treatment duration compared to the non-surgery group. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for increased treatment durations in men were 2.34 (95% CI 1.94–2.83) for ≤3 months, 5.22 (95% CI 3.43–7.94) for 3-12 months, and 5.79 (95% CI 3.69–9.09) for >12 months. For women, aORs were 3.68 (95% CI 2.50–5.41) for ≤3 months, 6.06 (95% CI 2.50–14.73) for 3-12 months, and 11.57 (95% CI 4.74–28.25) for >12 months.
Conclusions
Young patients who have undergone refractive surgery are significantly more likely to require DED lubricating eye drop treatment for more than a year after the procedure, suggesting the need for ongoing ocular lubrication post-surgery.