Dry eye Disease A consequence of aging, study finds

Written By : Dr.Niharika Harsha B |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2022-07-11T20:00:31+05:30 | Updated On 11 July 2022 8:00 PM IST

A recent study found that Dry Eye Disease (DED) is a consequence of Ageing. The study was published in the journal, "The Ocular Surface."

Similar to many other age-related ocular conditions like glaucoma, and cataracts, Dry eye disease is a common age-related ocular surface disease. But much research has not been conducted on how aging affects the ocular microenvironment. So researchers from Japan, U.S.A, and China conducted a systematic review to know the effect of aging on the ocular microenvironment and the development of DED.

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Using the search strategy articles were retrieved from databases like PUBMED, EMBASE, and Web of Science. There were 44 studies on age-related ocular changes and 14 epidemiological studies on the prevalence of DED. Meta-analysis was conducted on 8 out of 14 epidemiological studies using the PRISMA guidelines. Study-specific estimates (impact of aging on the prevalence of DED) were combined using a one-group meta-analysis in a random-effects model.

Results:

The prevalence of DED in the elderly aged ≥ 60 years was 5519 of 60107 (9.2%) as per meta-analysis.
The odds ratio of aging compared to younger age was 1.313 as per meta-analysis.
The integrity of the ocular surface and tear film stability decreased With increasing age.
Various inflammatory cells, including senescent-associated T-cells, infiltrated the ocular surface epithelium, lacrimal gland, and meibomian gland.
There were senescence-related changes like accumulation of 8-OHdG and lipofuscin-like inclusions, increased expression of p53 and apoptosis-related genes, and decreased Ki67 positive cells.

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Thus, the researchers concluded that the aging process greatly impacts the ocular surface microenvironment, leading to DED consequently. However, they added that the degree to which senescent cells at the ocular surface influence the pathology of DED remains unknown, and further understanding of the aging process at the ocular surface is needed.

To read the full article, click here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtos.2022.06.004

Kitazawa K, Inotmata T, Shih K, et al. Impact of aging on the pathophysiology of dry eye disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis [published online ahead of print, 2022 Jun 23]. Ocul Surf. 2022;25:108-118. doi:10.1016/j.jtos.2022.06.004

dry eye diseaseocular microenvironmentage related ocular diseasesDEDDED pathophysiology

Source : The Ocular Surface

Dr.Niharika Harsha B

BDS, MDS

Dr.Niharika Harsha B (BDS,MDS) completed her BDS from Govt Dental College, Hyderabad and MDS from Dr.NTR University of health sciences(Now Kaloji Rao University). She has 4 years of private dental practice and worked for 2 years as Consultant Oral Radiologist at a Dental Imaging Centre in Hyderabad. She worked as Research Assistant and scientific writer in the development of Oral Anti cancer screening device with her seniors. She has a deep intriguing wish in writing highly engaging, captivating and informative medical content for a wider audience. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751