Japan Ministry of Health study on prevalence of dry eye disease among Japanese high school students.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of dry eye disease and contact lens (CL) use among Japanese private high school students.


METHODS
Cross-sectional prevalence survey.


METHODS
We carried out a cross-sectional survey in 3,433 Japanese high school students who completed questionnaires designed to ascertain a prior diagnosis of dry eye disease and current symptoms of dry eye disease, as well as information on CL use and type of CL. We used logistic regression analysis to examine the associations between dry eye disease and CL use.


RESULTS
Of the 3,443 high school students, 3,433 (100%) completed the questionnaires. A total of 2,848 boys and 585 girls joined and the age range was from 15 to 18 years. Clinically diagnosed dry eye disease was present in 123 boys (4.3%) and 47 girls (8.0%). Severe symptoms of dry eye disease were observed in 599 subjects in boys (21.0%) and 143 in girls (24.4%). Soft contact lens (SCL) and hard contact lens (HCL) use was 36.1% and 1.7%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Dry eye disease leading to a clinical diagnosis or severe symptoms is prevalent in the studied Japanese private high school students. The condition is more prevalent among female subjects and CL wearers. Relevant measures directed against these risks could provide a positive impact on public health and quality of life of high school students.
Uchino
Miki
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Ryogoku Eye Clinic, Tokyo, Japan.
Dogru
Murat
M
Uchino
Yuichi
Y
Fukagawa
Kazumi
K
Shimmura
Shigeto
S
Takebayashi
Toru
T
Schaumberg
Debra A
DA
Tsubota
Kazuo
K
D000293:Adolescent; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006077:Government Agencies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires