Diagnostic criteria for determining indications for the treatment of dry eye syndrome and digital eye strain in children with myopia

Purpose. To develop indications for medical treatment of digital eye strain symptoms in combination with dry eye syndrome in children with myopia. Methods. 76 children (152 eyes) with myopia aged 8 to 18 years (mean age 13.1±2.32 years) were examined. Low myopia was present in 33 patients (43.4 %), moderate myopia in 39 patients (51.3 %), and high myopia in 4 patients (5.3 %). Among them, 38 were boys (50 %) and 38 were girls (50 %). The study group included patients who used gadgets and computer for more than 2 hours a day in total. All patients wore glasses as a method of optical correction. The severity of indirect signs of the ocular surface system disorder, presence of visual strain signs, and visual comfort status were measured by analyzing the results of patients’ online questionnaire “Ocular Surface Status” posted on the Internet. Using a MediWorks (China) slit lamp with the function of dry eye symptoms analyzing, non-invasive tear breakup time (NITBT) and tear meniscus height were measured. Results. A comprehensive approach to determining indications for prescribing tear replacement therapy in children with myopia has been developed. Tear replacement therapy using medium and high viscosity tear substitutes was prescribed in case if more than 29 points had been obtained in the “Ocular Surface Status” survey and NITBT indicator was less than 10 seconds. During re-examination after 1 month, the number of points in the questionnaire decreased, which characterized a decrease in the severity or disappearance of subjective dry eye symptoms. Indicators of tear film stability after the treatment course approached normal values. Conclusions. The proposed method for determining indications for dry eye syndrome drug therapy allows effective identification of children in need of treatment and reduction of subjective symptoms and objective manifestations of dry eye syndrome in children with myopia. Key words: ocular surface, dry eye syndrome in children, tear replacement therapy