A new study published in JAMA Ophthalmology investigated the association between depression and severity of dry eye disease (DED).
The study details.
The study included 535 participants from the Dry Eye Assessment and Management (DREAM) study, a randomized clinical trial including patients with moderate to severe symptoms and signs of DED.
Symptoms of DED were assessed using Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and Brief Ocular Discomfort Index (BODI), and signs were measured by tear film breakup time, Schirmer test, corneal and conjunctival staining, tear osmolarity, and meibomian gland dysfunction at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months.
Participants screened positive for depression if they scored 42 or less on the Mental Component Summary (MCS) of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey.
What did they find?
Participants who screened positive for depression had worse DED symptoms by OSDI and BODI and composite DED sign scores. Lower MCS score (ie, worse depression) was correlated with higher OSDI score (ie, worse DED symptoms) at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Inflammatory markers did not differ with depression status.
The take home.
The authors state that depression was associated with more severe DED symptoms and overall signs, suggesting that among patients with moderate to severe DED, those with depression may be likely to experience more severe DED.