Table 1.
Characteristics of study participants
| Full Sample (n = 41) |
Participated in qualitative interviews (moderate to severe symptoms; n = 17) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristics | n | % | n | % | |
| Job type | |||||
| Clinical | 20 | 48.8 | 9 | 52.9 | |
| Non-clinical | 21 | 51.2 | 8 | 47.1 | |
| Age group | |||||
| 18–29 | 16 | 39.0 | 7 | 41.2 | |
| 30–39 | 14 | 34.2 | 4 | 23.5 | |
| 40–49 | 8 | 19.5 | 5 | 29.4 | |
| 60–69 | 3 | 7.3 | 1 | 5.9 | |
| Sex | |||||
| Female | 31 | 75.6 | 15 | 88.2 | |
| Male | 10 | 24.4 | 2 | 11.8 | |
| Race | |||||
| White | 26 | 63.4 | 11 | 64.7 | |
| Black or African American | 3 | 7.3 | 1 | 5.9 | |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 2 | 4.9 | 1 | 5.9 | |
| Asian or Pacific Islander | 6 | 14.6 | 3 | 17.7 | |
| Multi-race | 1 | 2.4 | 0 | 0.0 | |
| Refused | 3 | 7.3 | 1 | 5.9 | |
| Ethnicity | |||||
| Non-Hispanic | 33 | 80.5 | 13 | 76.5 | |
| Hispanic | 8 | 19.5 | 4 | 23.5 | |
| Household income before tax* | |||||
| <$50,000 | 13 | 33.3 | 4 | 25.0 | |
| $50,000-$99,999 | 16 | 41.0 | 9 | 56.3 | |
| ≥$100,000 | 10 | 25.6 | 3 | 18.8 | |
| Current smoker | |||||
| No | 38 | 92.7 | 16 | 94.1 | |
| Yes | 3 | 7.3 | 1 | 5.9 | |
| Contact lenses wear at least 4 days/week | |||||
| No | 39 | 95.1 | 16 | 94.1 | |
| Yes | 2 | 4.9 | 1 | 5.9 | |
| Spectacles wear at least 4 days/week | |||||
| No | 15 | 36.6 | 7 | 41.2 | |
| Yes | 26 | 63.4 | 10 | 58.8 | |
| Average screen time | |||||
| 0–4 h | 8 | 19.5 | 3 | 17.7 | |
| 5–7 h | 15 | 36.6 | 5 | 29.4 | |
| 8 + hours | 18 | 43.9 | 9 | 52.9 | |
| Screen time most recent shift | |||||
| 0–4 h | 8 | 19.5 | 3 | 17.7 | |
| 5–7 h | 18 | 43.9 | 7 | 41.2 | |
| 8 + hours | 15 | 36.6 | 7 | 41.2 | |
| Dry eye diagnosis | |||||
| No | 20 | 48.8 | 8 | 47.1 | |
| Yes | 17 | 41.5 | 7 | 41.2 | |
| Unsure | 4 | 9.8 | 2 | 11.8 | |
| Dry eye treatment | |||||
| Over the counter (OTC) only | 12 | 29.3 | 3 | 17.7 | |
| OTC plus other | 16 | 39.0 | 9 | 52.9 | |
| None | 13 | 31.7 | 5 | 29.4 | |
| Treatment success | |||||
| Successful | 16 | 39.0 | 5 | 29.4 | |
| Not successful | 12 | 29.3 | 7 | 41.2 | |
| No treatment | 13 | 31.7 | 5 | 29.4 | |
| Facemask type | |||||
| N95 | 5 | 12.2 | 4 | 23.5 | |
| Surgical or cloth | 36 | 87.8 | 13 | 76.5 | |
| Facemask worn properly | |||||
| No | 7 | 17.1 | 3 | 17.7 | |
| Yes | 34 | 82.9 | 14 | 82.4 | |
| Mask wearing duration at the most recently concluded shift** | |||||
| < 8 h | 16 | 40.0 | 7 | 41.2 | |
| 8 h | 12 | 30.0 | 5 | 29.4 | |
| > 8 h | 12 | 30.0 | 5 | 29.4 | |
| Changes during COVID | |||||
| Facemask wearing duration | |||||
| Decreased | 6 | 14.6 | 2 | 11.8 | |
| No change | 17 | 41.5 | 7 | 41.2 | |
| Increased | 18 | 43.9 | 8 | 47.1 | |
| Airflow blown over eyes | |||||
| Decreased | 4 | 9.8 | 1 | 5.9 | |
| No change | 7 | 17.1 | 4 | 23.5 | |
| Increased | 27 | 65.9 | 12 | 70.6 | |
| Not sure | 3 | 7.3 | 0 | 0.0 | |
| Perceived change in severity of dry eye at work | |||||
| Decreased | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |
| No change | 4 | 9.8 | 0 | 0.0 | |
| Increased | 36 | 87.8 | 17 | 100.0 | |
| Not sure | 1 | 2.4 | 0 | 0.0 | |
| Perceived change in severity of dry eye NOT at work | |||||
| Decreased | 5 | 12.2 | 2 | 11.8 | |
| No change | 18 | 43.9 | 6 | 35.3 | |
| Increased | 18 | 43.9 | 9 | 52.9 | |
*Data missing from two participants
** Data missing from one participant