Depression can lead to severe dry eye symptoms: JAMA

USA: In a new study, it was found that depression was linked to more severe dry eye symptoms and overall signs, implying that among patients with moderate to severe dry eye disease (DED), those who were depressed were more likely to have severe DED.

Depression is more common in DED patients than in the general population; nevertheless, the relationship between DED severity and depression requires additional investigation. As a result, Yi Zhou and colleagues undertook this study to evaluate the relationship between depression and the severity of DED symptoms and indicators, including inflammatory markers. The findings of this study were published in the Journal of American Medical Association - Ophthalmology.

For this research longitudinal analysis and Secondary cross-sectional data from the Dry Eye Assessment and Management (DREAM) project, a randomized clinical trial that lasted from October 2014 to July 2016 and included patients with moderate to severe DED symptoms and signs, from April to December 2020. 535 individuals were enrolled from 27 academic and private ophthalmology and optometry facilities in 17 US states and were followed up for a year. Participants screening positive for depression if they scored 42 or fewer were taken for the study on the Mental Component Summary (MCS) of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey.

The findings of this study were as follow:

1. The mean age of the 535 participants was 58 years, 398 (74.4%) were White and 434 (81%) were women.

2. Participants who tested positive for depression exhibited worse DED symptoms measured by the OSDI, the BODI, and the composite DED sign score (effect size = 0.21).

3. Lower MCS scores (ie, poorer depression) were associated with higher OSDI scores (ie, worse DED symptoms) at baseline (Spearman = 0.09, P =.03), 6 months ( = 0.20), and 12 months ( = 0.21).

4. The presence of depression had no effect on inflammatory markers.

In conclusion, identifying depression and evaluating therapeutic options, including systemic drugs, may be beneficial in the management of DED patients. Comorbid psychiatric assessment may aid patients with more severe DED concerns or sign measures. The cause of the observed connection has to be investigated further.

Reference:

Zhou Y, Murrough J, Yu Y, et al. Association Between Depression and Severity of Dry Eye Symptoms, Signs, and Inflammatory Markers in the DREAM Study. JAMA Ophthalmol. Published online March 10, 2022. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2022.0140

Keywords: dry eye, dry eye disease, inflammation, depression, eye examination, psychiatric assessment, eye care, redness, irritation, JAMA, Yi Zhou