Prevalence and severity of dry eye disease among ophthalmologists and allied ocular care professionals

Purpose Dry eye disease (DED) is a common ocular condition that, if left untreated, can lead to visual impairment. Several studies have reported the prevalence of DED among the general population. The present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of DED among ophthalmologists and allied ocular care professionals. Methods This cross-sectional study included ophthalmologists and allied ocular care professionals who attended the Emirates Society of Ophthalmology (ESO) conference in 2024 in the United Arab Emirates. Eligible participants were asked to complete the Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5), based on which the presence and severity of DED were assessed. Results The study included 203 participants (53.2% males), with the majority being ophthalmologists (47.8%), followed by nurses (17.2%), optometrists (13.8%), and others (21.2%). The overall prevalence of DED was 82.8%. It was significantly higher among females than males (88.4% vs 77.8%, p = 0.0460), and female optometrists had a 4.36-fold higher risk of DED than male optometrists (p = 0.0127). Regarding DED severity, 27.6% of the participants had mild DED, 35.5% had moderate DED, and 19.7% had severe DED. Females who worked as ophthalmologists (RR = 1.72, p = 0.0450) and those engaged in other professions (RR = 3.31, p = 0.0024) had a significantly higher risk of severe DED. Conclusion This study highlights alarmingly high rates of DED among ophthalmologists and allied ocular care professionals. Female professionals, particularly those who work as optometrists, have a significantly higher risk of DED than their male counterparts.