Is dry eye syndrome a work-related disease among radiologists?
OBJECTIVE
To assess tear function in radiologists.


METHODS
The study included 71 volunteers divided into 2 groups; 36 radiologists (Group 1) and 35 non-radiologist controls (Group 2). The noted ophthalmologic symptoms in both groups were burning, stinging, redness, sensation of a foreign body, photophobia, and blurred vision. Schirmer's 1 and tear break-up time tests were used to assess tear function.


RESULTS
The distribution of eye symptoms in Group 1 was as follows: 16 radiologists (44.4%) presented with burning and stinging, 17 (47.2%) with the sensation of a foreign body, 23 (63.8%) with redness, 11 (30.5%) with blurred vision, and 5 (13.8%) with photophobia. As for Group 2, the following symptoms were noted: burning and stinging in 8 (22.8%), sensation of a foreign body in 5 (14.2%), redness in 6 (17.1%), blurred vision in 3 (8.5%), and photophobia in 1 control volunteer (2.8%). Tear break-up time test scores were 8.4 for Group 1 and 15.4 for Group 2, whereas Schirmer's 1 test scores were 9.1 and 16.1 for Groups 1 and 2, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
As a conclusion, dry eye syndrome occurs significantly more frequently in radiologists compared to non-radiologist. The working conditions and circumstances, including air-conditioned rooms, use of negatoscopes, and exposure to diagnostic radiation may be possible causative factors of this statistical outcome.
Ozkurt
Hüseyin
H
Department of Radiology, Sişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. drhozkurt@yahoo.com
Ozkurt
Yelda Buyru
YB
Başak
Muzaffer
M
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health; D011871:Radiology; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D017132:Workplace