Occurrence of Dry Eye Disease in Patients With Concomitant Strabismus: A Preliminary Cross-sectional Analysis.

Purpose: To determine the effects of strabismus on dry eye parameters.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the preliminary assessment of ocular parameters related to dry eye disease was performed in patients with untreated concomitant strabismus. In total, 204 patients with concomitant strabismus and 125 volunteers without strabismus (4 to 30 years old, 170 male and 159 female) were enrolled. The Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire (OSDI) was administered, and ocular surface was examined using the Oculus Keratograph 5M (Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH) to collect data on tear film break-up time (TBUT), ocular redness index (based on bulbar conjunctival blood vessel engorgement), and meibomian gland atrophy. Subgroup analysis was performed based on strabismus type (concomitant exotropia, concomitant esotropia, and non-strabismus); age (juvenile versus adults age > 18 years); and 5- to 10-year and 10- to 20-year strabismus course, according to an age of 12 years.

Results: Concomitant exotropia and esotropia were reported in 134 and 70 patients, respectively. A total of 125 healthy volunteers were recruited. The three groups showed significant differences in the ocular redness index (right eye: P = .012, left eye: P = .018). In contrast, other parameters were not significantly different. Similarly, no statistical differences in ocular surface indicators were observed when patients were divided by age (P > .05 for all) and the 5- to 10-year and 10- to 20-year strabismus course. The meibomian gland showed varying degrees of atrophy in both the strabismus and non-strabismus groups.

Conclusions: Strabismus does not affect tear film stability with age in this cohort with constant strabismus up to 30 years, indicating that strabismus may not increase the risk of dry eye disease. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2024;61(1):30-37.].