A new study has found an unexpectedly high prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) among eyecare professionals, raising concerns about occupational risk factors within the sector.
Published in International Ophthalmology, the cross-sectional survey reported that 82.8% of ocular care providers – including ophthalmologists, optometrists, and nurses – experienced symptoms consistent with DED.
The research, conducted among 203 attendees at the 2024 Emirates Society of Ophthalmology conference in Abu Dhabi, used the validated five-item Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5) to assess symptom severity. The findings significantly exceed global estimates for the general population, which range between 5% and 50%.
Of those surveyed, 27.6% reported mild symptoms, 35.5% moderate, and 19.7% severe DED. The authors noted that more than three-quarters of participants were symptomatic despite their professional knowledge of the condition.
Gender emerged as a key risk factor, with women showing a higher prevalence than men (88.4% compared with 77.8%). The disparity was most pronounced among optometrists, where female practitioners were found to have a 4.36-fold higher risk of developing DED.
The researchers suggest workplace conditions may contribute to the elevated rates, pointing to factors such as low humidity from air conditioning and reduced blink rates during prolonged slit-lamp examinations and electronic health record use.
“What stands out in the present study is that more than 75% of ocular health professionals had DED despite their presumed good understanding of the condition and its risk factors,” the authors stated.
However, the study has several limitations. It relied on a convenience sample from a single conference, potentially limiting generalisability, and used self-reported symptoms rather than clinical diagnosis. Age – an established risk factor for DED – was also not accounted for.
The authors have called for further longitudinal research incorporating clinical assessments, as well as deeper investigation into workplace-related contributors to dry eye disease among eye care professionals.
The study: AlSahli A, Husein N, Chowdhury TH, et al. Prevalence and severity of dry eye disease among ophthalmologists, optometrists, and nurses: a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey. Published online February 16, 2026.
