title: Long-term Natural History of Dry Eye Disease from the Patient's Perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the natural history of dry eye disease (DED), which chronically affects millions of people in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is based on the Women's Health Study and Physicians' Health Studies, and uses questionnaires and medical records.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 398 men and 386 women who reported a diagnosis of DED and responded to a questionnaire about change in disease since diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three subscales were developed using factor analysis of questionnaire responses: ocular surface symptoms, vision-related symptoms, and social impact. We examined correlates of worsening on each subscale, obtained medical records from a subset of 261 study participants, and examined changes in clinical signs of DED over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Worsening in ocular surface symptoms, vision-related symptoms, and social impact plus clinical signs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average duration of DED of 10.5 years (standard deviation, 9.5 years). Worsening was reported by 24% for ocular surface symptoms, 29% for vision-related symptoms, and 10% for social impact. Factors associated with worsening on at least 2 of 3 subscales included a previous report of severe DED symptoms (odds ratio [OR], 2.17 for ocular surface symptoms; OR, 2.35 for vision-related symptoms), spending >$20 per month on DED treatments (OR, 1.80 for ocular surface symptoms; OR, 1.99 for vision-related symptoms), history of blepharitis or meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) (OR, 1.57 for vision-related symptoms; OR, 2.12 for social impact), and use of systemic beta-blockers (OR, 1.62 for ocular surface symptoms; OR, 1.84 for vision-related symptoms; OR, 1.86 for the social impact of DED). Presence of corneal staining based on review of medical records was associated with use of level 2 or higher DED treatments (OR, 1.54; confidence interval [CI], 1.01-2.36), a previous report of severe DED symptoms (OR, 1.79; CI, 1.07-3.00), having a tear break-up test performed (OR, 2.73; CI, 1.72-4.36), and having blepharitis or MGD (OR, 0.59; CI, 0.35-0.98).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A proportion of patients with DED experience worsening over time, tending to report with more severe symptoms earlier in the disease. Forthcoming data on the natural history of DED from prospective studies should help clarify some of the limitations of this retrospective study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Jeffrey P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lienert
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tarko
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uchino
authors.affiliation: Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Christen
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Center for Translational Medicine, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah. Electronic address: debra.schaumberg@utah.edu.
authors.forename: Debra A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Schaumberg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012650:Self Disclosure; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*