title: Frequency and risk factors associated with dry eye in patients attending a tertiary care ophthalmology center in Mexico City.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to ascertain the frequency and risk factors of dry eye (DE) among patients attending a tertiary care ophthalmology center in Mexico.
  
  
  METHODS
  Approximately 338 consecutive new patients attending a tertiary care ophthalmology center in Mexico City underwent an ocular surface examination, which included tear film break-up time, fluorescein corneal staining, Schirmer's test, and evaluation of meibum quality. Symptoms of DE were evaluated by the Ocular Surface Disease Index and Dry Eye Questionnaire-5. Information on demographics, exposures, past medical and ocular history, and medications was also collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of severe DE symptoms was found to be 43% based on the Ocular Surface Disease Index and 30% based on Dry Eye Questionnaire-5. Risk factors significantly associated with increased DE symptoms included dry mouth and gastrointestinal ulcer medications. With regard to signs, aqueous tear deficiency was a less-frequent finding (22%) in our population than evaporative deficiency (94%). Risk factors associated with aqueous tear deficiency were dry mouth and diuretic use. No risk factors were associated with evaporative deficiency. Risk factors associated with meibomian gland dysfunction included old age, male sex, arthritis, and use of an antihypertensive. The only risk factor associated with corneal staining was dry mouth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to demonstrate the frequency of symptomatic and clinical DE in a tertiary care ophthalmology center in Mexico. The frequency of DE ranged from 30% using a symptomatic definition to 94% using objective measures. Different risk factors were found for different aspects of DE, suggesting differing underlying pathophysiologies behind different DE subtypes.
authors: Cornea and External Diseases Service, Asociación Para Evitar la Ceguera en Mexico (Association to prevent blindness in Mexico), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors: Jaime D
authors: JD
authors: Martinez
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Cornea and External Diseases Division, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
authors: Anat
authors: A
authors: Galor
authors: Cornea and External Diseases Service, Asociación Para Evitar la Ceguera en Mexico (Association to prevent blindness in Mexico), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors: Nallely
authors: N
authors: Ramos-Betancourt
authors: Cornea and External Diseases Service, Asociación Para Evitar la Ceguera en Mexico (Association to prevent blindness in Mexico), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors: Andrés
authors: A
authors: Lisker-Cervantes
authors: Cornea and External Diseases Service, Asociación Para Evitar la Ceguera en Mexico (Association to prevent blindness in Mexico), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Beltrán
authors: Cornea and External Diseases Service, Asociación Para Evitar la Ceguera en Mexico (Association to prevent blindness in Mexico), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Ozorno-Zárate
authors: Cornea and External Diseases Service, Asociación Para Evitar la Ceguera en Mexico (Association to prevent blindness in Mexico), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors: Valeria
authors: V
authors: Sánchez-Huerta
authors: Cornea and External Diseases Service, Asociación Para Evitar la Ceguera en Mexico (Association to prevent blindness in Mexico), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors: Marco-Antonio
authors: MA
authors: Torres-Vera
authors: Cornea and External Diseases Service, Asociación Para Evitar la Ceguera en Mexico (Association to prevent blindness in Mexico), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors: Everardo
authors: E
authors: Hernández-Quintela
keywords: dry eye; meibomian gland dysfunction; ocular surface disease