Dry eye examination – benefits of Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire with clinical testing

Abstract

Introduction/Objective Dry eye is a multifactorial disease with incidence up to 50% in the general population. It is characterized by a loss of homeostasis of the tear film and accompanied by ocular symptoms. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire is designed to provide a rapid assessment of the symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic capacity of OSDI.

Methods A prospective, randomized and observational study was conducted at the Clinic for Eye Disease, University Clinical Center of Serbia, between December 2018 and February 2019. The OSDI questionnaire was used to rate the severity of dry eye disease. Schirmer I test, tear break-up time test (TBUT), Rose Bengal test and lid-parallel conjunctival folds (LIPCOF) test were performed as a clinical proof of the symptoms.

Results A total of 27 patients, 15 male (55.4%) and 12 female (44.6%), with mean age of 60 ± 15 years were included in the study. The average value of OSDI score was 26.37 ± 23.98 (0–80). Schirmer I test and Rose Bengal test for the right and the left eye, as well as the TBUT test for the left eye were positively correlated with OSDI score (Spearman correlation coefficient).

Conclusion OSDI questionnaire is a fast, reliable, and inexpensive test. In our study we have found a correlation between the OSDI score and other clinical tests, except with LIPCOF test. At this moment, the questionnaire that could be the gold standard for dry eye disease diagnosis does not exist, therefore further studies concerning this topic are needed.

Keywords: dry eye; OSDI questionnaire; LIPCOF; Schirmer test; TBUT test; Rose Bengal test