Prevalence of dry eye disease among medical students at an argentinian university

Objective: Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disorder of the ocular surface characterized by a loss of tear film homeostasis. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of DED among medical students at Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Argentina. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, and analytical study was conducted in May 2025 using a digital survey that included the validated Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire. Results: A total of 158 responses were analyzed. Of these, 57.6% reported two or more visual symptoms, and 65.8% reported extraocular symptoms. Notably, 82% of respondents associated their symptoms with screen time. No significant associations were found with sex, academic year, or presence of refractive errors. Conslusion: The findings highlight the high prevalence of symptomatic dry eye in young adults and underscore the need for preventive and educational measures promoting visual health in academic settings.