Assessment of mask associated dry eye among doctors and medical students at a tertiary care centre

Abstract

When faced with outbreaks of infectious respiratory diseases in the past, the use of face masks has often been mandated. The world collectively experienced the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in Wuhan, China, in October 2019 and rapidly spread across the globe. Wearing face masks became the primary defense against infection. However, during this period, many individuals reported experiencing symptoms of dry eye. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between mask usage and dryness among healthcare workers.A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey, which included a modified version of the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire. Electronic consent was obtained to gather information about the occurrence of dryness while wearing masks.Among the 284 participants, females exhibited a higher OSDI score (12.5) compared to males. Notably, individuals with pre-existing dry eye conditions had a significantly higher OSDI score (23.96) when wearing face masks. Across different age groups, no significant variations were observed. In terms of the duration of face mask use, those who wore masks for less than 4 hours and more than 6 hours had an OSDI score of 12.5, whereas individuals wearing masks for 4 to 6 hours had a score of 8.3.Wearing face masks may pose a risk for dryness, particularly among females, and can exacerbate dryness symptoms in individuals with pre-existing dry eye conditions.