Pretty rudimentary stuff being reconfirmed for the umpteenth time here, nonetheless it is encouraging to see the VA initiating this kind of study (oh, and to see a study of mostly MEN and dry eye). Not much comfort to the gentleman I spoke with the other day who was having no luck getting help at a VA hospital in another part of the country, sigh. Not that I am in the least inclined to pick on the VA - I'm not - in fact I used to get calls regularly from patients at one particular VA hospital who were getting GREAT care. Wish I could say the same for all the high-falutin' bigname medical institutions some dry eye patients have gone to in desperation.

Impact of Ocular Surface Symptoms on Quality of Life in a United States Veterans Affairs Population.

PURPOSE:
To evaluate the impact of ocular surface symptoms on quality of life in a veteran population receiving eye care services.

DESIGN:
Cross-sectional survey study.

METHODS:
Setting: Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). Patient population: Patients seen at the eye clinic between June and August 2010 were asked to fill out the Dry Eye Questionnaire 5 (DEQ5) and the Impact of Dry Eye on Everyday Life (IDEEL) questionnaire.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Correlation between ocular surface symptoms and functionality.

RESULTS:
Four hundred eighty-nine patients elected to fill out the DEQ5 questionnaire (36% response rate). The mean age of respondents was 66 years (standard deviation 12). Ninety-four percent were male; 62% were white and 37% were black. Using the DEQ5 as a surrogate measure of ocular surface symptoms, 65% of respondents reported at least mild ocular surface symptoms (DEQ5 ≥6) and 27% of them reported severe symptoms (DEQ5 ≥12). Black subjects had a 2-fold increased risk of severe symptoms compared to white subjects (odds ratio 2.06, 95% confidence interval 1.33-3.19). Several medications were associated with a significantly increased risk of severe symptoms, including glaucoma medications (1.7-fold increase), antidepressants (2.3-fold increase), and antihistamines (2.1-fold increase). There was an inverse correlation between DEQ5 and IDEEL scores with regard to ability to perform activities of daily living (n = 391, r = -0.54, P < .001), emotional well-being (n = 386, r = -0.63, P < .001), and the ability to work (n = 205, r = -0.57, P < .001). Fifty percent of patients with severe symptoms had documentation that their symptoms were addressed during the visit.

CONCLUSION:
Severe ocular surface symptoms reduce the quality of life of Miami VAMC veterans. Eye care professionals should be vigilant in eliciting ocular surface complaints from their patients.
Am J Ophthalmol. 2012 Feb 11. [Epub ahead of print]
Pouyeh B, Viteri E, Feuer W, Lee DJ, Florez H, Fabian JA, Perez VL, Galor A.
Source
Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center, Miami, Florida; Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, Florida.