Prevalence of Dry Eye Disease in Children and Adult with Chronic Ocular Allergy in Upper Egyptian Population

Background: Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial ocular disorder defined by the chronic loss of tear film homeostasis and instability, resulting in a self-closed cycle of ocular surface damage and inflammation.Objectives: To assess the occurrence of dry eye disease in long-term children and adult ocular allergies within the southern Egyptian community.Patients and methods: This cross-sectional, observational, hospital-based research has been performed on one hundred patients’ eyes presented by various ophthalmic complaints such as irritation, discomfort, dryness, presence of foreign body sensation, gritty sensation, burning sensation, and light sensitivity, divided into Group A: 50 eyes in childhood chronic allergy and Group B: 50 eyes in adult chronic allergy at the Ophthalmology Department, Qena University Hospital, South Valley University.Results: A highly statistically significant variance was detected among the pediatric and adult groups regarding the duration of allergic conjunctivitis (AC), dry eye score system (DESS) score, tear film break-up time test (TFBUT), fluorescein corneal staining (FCS) scores, and tear film breakup time. A statistically insignificant variance was observed among the pediatric and adult groups regarding tearing and foreign body sensations.Conclusion: We conclude that a highly statistically significant variance was observed among pediatric and adult groups regarding the duration of AC, DESS score, TFBUT, and FCS scores. Also, a statistically significant variance was observed among pediatric and adult groups regarding K1, K2, Schirmer, TMH-R, severity of OSDI, total OSDI score, and ocular-symptom RQLQ score.