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Copyright © 2022, Motwani et al. This work is published under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Aim: To determine whether wearing a face mask for more than three to six hours/day leads to the new onset of symptoms or worsening of pre-existing dry eye disease (DED) in healthcare workers (HCWs) of our institute.

Methodology: An observational cross-sectional study, where 114 HCWs using face masks regularly participated voluntarily in the study. A survey with a modified Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire was completed by participants. They were divided into groups based on their sex, age, how long they had been wearing face masks, and whether they had a history of DED.

Results: We found that for HCWs who had previously experienced DED and who were under the age of 40, wearing a face mask for more than three to six hours/day could contribute to or worsen symptoms of DED. Also, we observed that the N-95 mask has a higher chance of causing DED than surgical masks.

Conclusion: Medical professionals need to be aware of any potential dry eye symptoms related to the prolonged use of a face mask. Additional consideration should be given to patients who already have DED. The possible concerns that incorrectly fitted facemasks may cause to the health of their ocular surface should be discussed with patients by ophthalmologists. Future research involving larger populations will shed light on the prevalence and scope of the mask-associated dry eye problem.

Details

Title
Face Mask in COVID-19 and Its Association With Dry Eye Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study
Author
Motwani Rohini; Janti, Siddharam S; Ganji Vidya; Mali, Kalpana R; Yadav Kishore; Patnaik Nabnita; Morya, Arvind Kumar
University/institution
U.S. National Institutes of Health/National Library of Medicine
Publication year
2022
Publication date
2022
Publisher
Springer Nature B.V.
e-ISSN
21688184
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2771240438
Copyright
Copyright © 2022, Motwani et al. This work is published under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.