Table 2.
Change in eye strain-related symptom and visual function among all survey participants and association with dry eye severity.
| Eye strain-related symptom | MILD dry eye (N = 97) n (%) |
MODERATE dry eye (N = 80) n (%) |
SEVERE dry eye (N = 211) n (%) |
ALL Respondents (N = 388) n (%) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dryness of the eyes | ||||||||
| Not applicable | 1 | (1) | 2 | (3) | 6 | (3) | 9 | (2) |
| Much better | 0 | (0) | 1 | (1) | 8 | (4) | 9 | (2) |
| Somewhat better | 13 | (13) | 7 | (9) | 22 | (10) | 42 | (11) |
| No change |
30 |
(31) |
18 |
(23) |
55 |
(26) |
103 |
(27) |
| Somewhat worse | 36 | (37) | 31 | (39) | 66 | (31) | 133 | (34) |
| Much worse | 17 | (18) | 21 | (26) | 54 | (26) | 92 | (24) |
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | Ref | 1.69 (0.87, 3.27) | 1.09 (0.65, 1.82) | |||||
| Burning of the eyes | ||||||||
| Not applicable | 16 | (17) | 10 | (13) | 19 | (9) | 45 | (12) |
| Much better | 1 | (1) | 1 | (1) | 9 | (4) | 11 | (3) |
| Somewhat better | 9 | (9) | 6 | (8) | 12 | (6) | 27 | (7) |
| No change |
29 |
(30) |
20 |
(25) |
57 |
(27) |
106 |
(27) |
| Somewhat worse | 29 | (30) | 28 | (35) | 77 | (37) | 134 | (35) |
| Much worse | 13 | (13) | 15 | (19) | 37 | (18) | 65 | (17) |
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | Ref | 1.49 (0.75, 2.97) | 1.36 (0.79, 2.36) | |||||
| Itching of the eyes | ||||||||
| Not applicable | 17 | (18) | 13 | (16) | 30 | (14) | 60 | (16) |
| Much better | 0 | (0) | 1 | (1) | 5 | (2) | 6 | (2) |
| Somewhat better | 8 | (8) | 5 | (6) | 13 | (6) | 26 | (7) |
| No change |
30 |
(31) |
20 |
(25) |
76 |
(36) |
126 |
(33) |
| Somewhat worse | 33 | (34) | 24 | (30) | 55 | (26) | 112 | (29) |
| Much worse | 9 | (9) | 17 | (21) | 32 | (15) | 58 | (15) |
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | Ref | 1.51 (0.77, 2.98) | 0.84 (0.49, 1.45) | |||||
| Foreign body sensation | ||||||||
| Not applicable | 21 | (22) | 12 | (15) | 34 | (16) | 67 | (17) |
| Much better | 1 | (1) | 0 | (0) | 5 | (2) | 6 | (2) |
| Somewhat better | 4 | (4) | 4 | (5) | 6 | (3) | 14 | (4) |
| No change |
34 |
(35) |
26 |
(33) |
88 |
(42) |
148 |
(38) |
| Somewhat worse | 29 | (30) | 24 | (30) | 43 | (20) | 96 | (25) |
| Much worse | 8 | (8) | 14 | (18) | 35 | (17) | 57 | (15) |
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | Ref | 1.60 (0.81, 3.18) | 0.82 (0.47, 1.44) | |||||
| Frequent and/or rapid blinking of the eyes | ||||||||
| Not applicable | 27 | (28) | 15 | (26) | 40 | (19) | 82 | (21) |
| Much better | 0 | (0) | 0 | (0) | 2 | (1) | 2 | (1) |
| Somewhat better | 6 | (6) | 3 | (4) | 10 | (5) | 19 | (5) |
| No change |
33 |
(34) |
32 |
(39) |
90 |
(43) |
154 |
(40) |
| Somewhat worse | 26 | (27) | 21 | (26) | 35 | (17) | 82 | (21) |
| Much worse | 5 | (5) | 10 | (13) | 34 | (16) | 49 | (13) |
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | Ref | 1.30 (0.65, 2.62) | 0.82 (0.46, 1.46) | N/A | ||||
| Sensitivity to light | ||||||||
| Not applicable | 11 | (11) | 9 | (11) | 28 | (13) | 48 | (12) |
| Much better | 0 | (0) | 0 | (0) | 3 | (1) | 3 | (1) |
| Somewhat better | 7 | (7) | 6 | (8) | 10 | (5) | 23 | (6) |
| No change |
39 |
(40) |
28 |
(35) |
83 |
(39) |
150 |
(39) |
| Somewhat worse | 26 | (27) | 20 | (25) | 50 | (24) | 96 | (25) |
| Much worse | 14 | (14) | 17 | (21) | 37 | (18) | 68 | (18) |
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | Ref | 1.20 (0.62, 2.30) | 0.98 (0.58, 1.67) | N/A | ||||
| Watering of the eyes | ||||||||
| Not applicable | 41 | (42) | 24 | (30) | 58 | (28) | 123 | (32) |
| Much better | 0 | (0) | 1 | (1) | 1 | (1) | 2 | (1) |
| Somewhat better | 3 | (3) | 1 | (1) | 8 | (4) | 12 | (3) |
| No change |
35 |
(36) |
31 |
(39) |
88 |
(42) |
154 |
(40) |
| Somewhat worse | 15 | (16) | 16 | (20) | 39 | (19) | 70 | (18) |
| Much worse | 3 | (3) | 7 | (9) | 17 | (8) | 27 | (7) |
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | Ref | 1.43 (0.63, 3.22) | 1.25 (0.64, 2.46) | N/A | ||||
| Redness of the eyes | ||||||||
| Not applicable | 17 | (18) | 14 | (18) | 36 | (17) | 67 | (17) |
| Much better | 1 | (1) | 0 | (0) | 6 | (3) | 7 | (2) |
| Somewhat better | 7 | (7) | 2 | (3) | 7 | (3) | 16 | (4) |
| No change |
40 |
(41) |
33 |
(41) |
90 |
(43) |
163 |
(42) |
| Somewhat worse | 26 | (27) | 20 | (25) | 49 | (23) | 95 | (25) |
| Much worse | 6 | (6) | 11 | (14) | 23 | (11) | 40 | (10) |
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | Ref | 1.47 (0.74, 2.91) | 1.04 (0.59, 1.81) | N/A | ||||
| Tiredness/fatigue of the eyes | ||||||||
| Not applicable | 3 | (3) | 2 | (3) | 7 | (3) | 12 | (3) |
| Much better | 3 | (3) | 0 | (0) | 8 | (4) | 11 | (3) |
| Somewhat better | 6 | (6) | 5 | (6) | 11 | (5) | 22 | (6) |
| No change |
26 |
(27) |
14 |
(18) |
56 |
(27) |
96 |
(25) |
| Somewhat worse | 36 | (37) | 32 | (40) | 60 | (28) | 128 | (33) |
| Much worse | 23 | (24) | 27 | (34) | 69 | (33) | 119 | (31) |
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | Ref | 1.70 (0.85, 3.40) | 0.96 (0.56, 1.63) | N/A | ||||
| Eye pain | ||||||||
| Not applicable | 32 | (33) | 16 | (20) | 27 | (13) | 75 | (19) |
| Much better | 0 | (0) | 0 | (0) | 9 | (4) | 9 | (2) |
| Somewhat better | 6 | (6) | 1 | (1) | 10 | (5) | 17 | (4) |
| No change |
30 |
(31) |
19 |
(24) |
81 |
(38) |
130 |
(34) |
| Somewhat worse | 24 | (25) | 27 | (34) | 49 | (23) | 100 | (26) |
| Much worse | 5 | (5) | 17 | (21) | 35 | (17) | 57 | (15) |
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | Ref | 2.57 (1.22, 5.41)* | 1.00 (0.56, 1.81) | N/A | ||||
| Difficulty keeping eyes open because of symptoms | ||||||||
| Not applicable | 35 | (36) | 18 | (23) | 42 | (20) | 95 | (25) |
| Much better | 0 | (0) | 0 | (0) | 3 | (1) | 3 | (1) |
| Somewhat better | 4 | (4) | 2 | (3) | 8 | (4) | 14 | (4) |
| No change |
27 |
(28) |
23 |
(29) |
81 |
(39) |
131 |
(34) |
| Somewhat worse | 24 | (25) | 22 | (28) | 44 | (21) | 90 | (23) |
| Much worse | 7 | (7) | 15 | (19) | 33 | (16) | 55 | (14) |
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | Ref | 1.60 (0.76, 3.38) | 0.89 (0.48, 1.64) | N/A | ||||
| Blurry vision | ||||||||
| Not applicable | 24 | (25) | 13 | (16) | 29 | (14) | 66 | (17) |
| Much better | 0 | (0) | 1 | (1) | 1 | (1) | 2 | (1) |
| Somewhat better | 2 | (2) | 2 | (3) | 6 | (3) | 10 | (3) |
| No change | 20 | (21) | 22 | (28) | 69 | (33) | 111 | (29) |
| Somewhat worse | 38 | (39) | 24 | (30) | 57 | (27) | 119 | (31) |
| Much worse | 13 | (13) | 18 | (23) | 49 | (23) | 80 | (21) |
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | Ref | 0.68 (0.33, 1.42) | 0.59 (0.32, 1.07) | N/A | ||||
| Fluctuating vision | ||||||||
| Not applicable | 37 | (38) | 18 | (23) | 40 | (19) | 95 | (24) |
| Much better | 0 | (0) | 0 | (0) | 1 | (1) | 1 | (0) |
| Somewhat better | 1 | (1) | 3 | (4) | 5 | (2) | 9 | (2) |
| No change |
28 |
(29) |
19 |
(24) |
71 |
(34) |
118 |
(30) |
| Somewhat worse | 23 | (24) | 23 | (29) | 60 | (28) | 106 | (27) |
| Much worse | 8 | (8) | 17 | (21) | 34 | (16) | 59 | (15) |
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | Ref | 1.51 (0.72, 3.18) | 1.09 (0.59, 2.00) | N/A | ||||
| Need to increase font size when reading | ||||||||
| Not applicable | 21 | (22) | 12 | (15) | 30 | (14) | 63 | (16) |
| Much better | 0 | (0) | 0 | (0) | 1 | (1) | 2 | (1) |
| Somewhat better | 0 | (0) | 1 | (1) | 2 | (1) | 2 | (1) |
| No change |
27 |
(28) |
27 |
(34) |
80 |
(38) |
134 |
(35) |
| Somewhat worse | 36 | (37) | 27 | (34) | 58 | (28) | 121 | (31) |
| Much worse | 13 | (13) | 13 | (16) | 40 | (19) | 66 | (17) |
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | Ref | 0.87 (0.43, 1.75) | 0.58 (0.33, 1.03) | N/A | ||||
| Need to brighten screen/room when reading | ||||||||
| Not applicable | 18 | (19) | 10 | (13) | 31 | (15) | 59 | (15) |
| Much better | 0 | (0) | 0 | (0) | 1 | (1) | 1 | (0) |
| Somewhat better | 3 | (3) | 3 | (4) | 1 | (1) | 7 | (2) |
| No change |
34 |
(35) |
36 |
(45) |
92 |
(44) |
162 |
(42) |
| Somewhat worse | 30 | (31) | 22 | (28) | 48 | (23) | 100 | (26) |
| Much worse | 12 | (12) | 9 | (11) | 38 | (18) | 59 | (15) |
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | Ref | 0.64 (0.32, 1.27) | 0.70 (0.40, 1.23) | N/A | ||||
| Eye symptoms interfered with screen use, reading, or work | ||||||||
| Not applicable | 20 | (21) | 9 | (11) | 17 | (8) | 46 | (12) |
| Much better | 0 | (0) | 2 | (3) | 3 | (1) | 5 | (1) |
| Somewhat better | 2 | (2) | 2 | (3) | 9 | (4) | 13 | (3) |
| No change |
30 |
(31) |
20 |
(25) |
72 |
(34) |
122 |
(31) |
| Somewhat worse | 31 | (32) | 30 | (38) | 61 | (29) | 122 | (31) |
| Much worse | 14 | (14) | 17 | (21) | 49 | (23) | 80 | (21) |
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | Ref | 1.34 (0.66, 2.71) | 0.87 (0.50, 1.52) | N/A | ||||
| Headache because of eye symptoms | ||||||||
| Not applicable | 29 | (30) | 20 | (25) | 42 | (20) | 91 | (24) |
| Much better | 0 | (0) | 0 | (0) | 6 | (3) | 6 | (2) |
| Somewhat better | 3 | (3) | 0 | (0) | 3 | (1) | 6 | (2) |
| No change |
36 |
(37) |
22 |
(28) |
81 |
(38) |
139 |
(36) |
| Somewhat worse | 22 | (23) | 21 | (26) | 54 | (26) | 97 | (25) |
| Much worse | 7 | (7) | 17 | (21) | 25 | (12) | 49 | (13) |
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | Ref | 2.34 (1.11, 4.90)* | 1.15 (0.64, 2.09) | N/A | ||||
| Difficulty concentrating because of eye symptoms | ||||||||
| Not applicable | 19 | (20) | 9 | (11) | 33 | (16) | 61 | (16) |
| Much better | 0 | (0) | 0 | (0) | 4 | (2) | 4 | (1) |
| Somewhat better | 4 | (4) | 3 | (4) | 7 | (3) | 14 | (4) |
| No change |
37 |
(38) |
20 |
(25) |
75 |
(36) |
132 |
(34) |
| Somewhat worse | 28 | (29) | 31 | (39) | 54 | (26) | 113 | (29) |
| Much worse | 9 | (9) | 17 | (21) | 38 | (18) | 64 | (17) |
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | Ref | 2.79 (1.37, 5.66)* | 1.15 (0.64, 2.09) | N/A | ||||
• Odds ratio for each symptom was calculated as likelihood of rating symptom somewhat or much worse comparing respondents with moderate dry eye versus respondents with mild dry eye (3rd column) and comparing respondents with severe dry eye versus respondents with mild dry eye (4th column).
• All estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) that are in bold font are statistically significant at the 95% confidence level.
• * = P < 0.05.
• Multivariable analysis that adjusts for age, sex, race, and employment status.