title: Survey of eye practitioners' preference of diagnostic tests and treatment modalities for dry eye in Ghana.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to provide an evidence-based profile of the diagnosis, treatment and knowledge or opinions on dry eye among optometrists and ophthalmologists in Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional survey RESULTS: The responses of 162 participants are included in the analysis. The most commonly used test to diagnosed dry eye disease was tear break-up time followed by patient history. The most common symptom doctors heard from dry eye patients were burning sensation followed by foreign body sensation. The most often prescribed first- line treatment for dry eye was aqueous-based artificial tears followed by lipid-based artificial tears. Most practitioners considered meibomian gland dysfunction as the most common cause of dry eye followed by pterygium. The most often used test to guide or gauge therapeutic effect is patient history followed closely by tear break-up time. Most practitioners reported that 10%-20% of all their patients they see in a day are diagnosed of dry eye.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed tear break up time was the main test majority of practitioners in Ghana used to diagnose dry eye but patient history was the main test used to gauge therapeutic effect over time. Burning sensation was the commonest symptom practitioners heard from dry eye patients whilst artificial tears was their main and first-line treatment for dry eye.
authors: Eye Center, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Optometry, School of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health and Allied Science University of Cape-Coast, Cape-Coast, Ghana. Electronic address: kasiedu60@yahoo.com.
authors: Kofi
authors: K
authors: Asiedu
authors: Department of Optometry, School of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health and Allied Science University of Cape-Coast, Cape-Coast, Ghana.
authors: Samuel
authors: S
authors: Kyei
authors: Department of Optometry, School of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health and Allied Science University of Cape-Coast, Cape-Coast, Ghana.
authors: Benedict
authors: B
authors: Ayobi
authors: Department of Optometry, School of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health and Allied Science University of Cape-Coast, Cape-Coast, Ghana.
authors: Frank Okyere
authors: FO
authors: Agyemang
authors: Department of Optometry and Visual Science, School of Bioscience, College of Science, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors: Reynolds Kwame
authors: RK
authors: Ablordeppey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D065346:Lubricant Eye Drops / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072163:Ophthalmologists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000072162:Optometrists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D065346:Lubricant Eye Drops
keywords: Dry eye; Fluorescein; Patient history; Practitioners