Dry Eye among Medical Students of Gandaki Medical College, Pokhara, Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: Dry eye disease results from decreased tear production, increased evaporation of tears and inflammation. Medical students of­ten have dry eyes due to use of projectors, computers for study and also due to use of mobiles. Objective: The present study was undertaken to find out dry eye by Schirmer 1 test with local anesthesia and measurement of wetting of Schirmer test strip. Methods: Schirmer 1 test with anesthesia was performed on 200 medi­cal students from June 1, 2017 to June 1, 2018 after obtaining informed consent and after applying some exclusion criteria. The test was per­formed by first applying 4% topical lignocaine and then using Whatman filter paper no 41 and wetting of the filter paper measured after five minutes and time noted. Results: 146 (73%) Among 200 Students, were males and 54 (27%) were females. Mean age of patients was 21.73 ±1.42 years. Mild dry eye was seen in 19.5%, moderate in 13% and severe dry eye in 13.5% of medical students Conclusion: Dry eye is one of common ocular disease among medical students.