title: Age-related changes of the ocular surface: a hospital setting-based retrospective study.
abstract: Purpose. To investigate the effects of age on the prevalence of ocular surface diseases (OSD), adherence to treatment, and recovery rates. Patients and Methods. Retrospective analysis of 3000 clinical records from a first-level general ophthalmology clinic. Patients with OSD were prospectively submitted a questionnaire to assess compliance and recovery rates. Results. OSD prevalence was 10.3%. Patients with OSD were significantly older than patients without it: 67.5 ± 20.3 versus 57.0 ± 22.0 years (P = 0.036). No significant difference in season distribution was shown. Dry eye disease (DED) represented 58% of OSD; its prevalence increased with age until 80 years old and suddenly decreased thereafter. Asymptomatic DED was 37%. Adherence to treatment in OSD was very high (94%); recovery rates were lower in patients aged 21-40 and 61-80 (resp., 65.5% and 77.8%) and this was associated with higher OSDI scores. Tear substitutes represented 50% of all prescribed medications; their use increased with age. Discussion. In a "real-life" low-tech setting, OSD showed a prevalence of 10.3%. DED was the most prevalent disease, and it was asymptomatic in more than 1/3 of cases.
authors.affiliation: Eye Clinic, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, 20142 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4348-8790
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ottobelli
authors.affiliation: Eye Clinic, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, 20142 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8183-5365
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fogagnolo
authors.affiliation: Eye Clinic, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, 20142 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guerini
authors.affiliation: Eye Clinic, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, 20142 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7027-3173
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rossetti