Impact of Ocular Surface Symptoms on Quality of Life in a United States Veterans Affairs Population

center dot PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of ocular surface symptoms on quality of life in a veteran population receiving eye care services. center dot DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey study. center dot METHODS: SETTING: Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). PATIENT POPULATION: Patients seen at the eye clinic between June and August 2010 were asked to fill out the Dry Eye Questionnaire 5 (DEQ5) and the Impact of Dry Eye on Everyday Life (IDEEL) questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Correlation between ocular surface symptoms and functionality. center dot RESULTS: Four hundred eighty-nine patients elected to fill out the DEQ5 questionnaire (36% response rate). The mean age of respondents was 66 years (standard deviation 12). Ninety-four percent were male; 62% were white and 37% were black. Using the DEQ5 as a surrogate measure of ocular surface symptoms, 65% of respondents reported at least mild ocular surface symptoms (DEQ5 >= 6) and 27% of them reported severe symptoms (DEQ5 >= 12). Black subjects had a 2-fold increased risk of severe symptoms compared to white subjects (odds ratio 2.06, 95% confidence interval 1.333.19). Several medications were associated with a significantly increased risk of severe symptoms, including glaucoma medications (1.7-fold increase), antidepressants (2.3-fold increase), and antihistamines (2.1-fold increase). There was an inverse correlation between DEQ5 and IDEEL scores with regard to ability to perform activities of daily living (n = 391, r = -0.54, P < .001), emotional well-being (n = 386, r = -0.63, P < .001), and the ability to work (n = 205, r = -0.57, P < .001). Fifty percent of patients with severe symptoms had documentation that their symptoms were addressed during the visit. center dot CONCLUSION: Severe ocular surface symptoms reduce the quality of life of Miami VAMC veterans. Eye care professionals should be vigilant in eliciting ocular surface complaints from their patients. (Am J Ophthalmol 2012;153:1061-1066. (C) 2012 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)