Comparison of Two Questionnaires for Dry Eye Symptom Assessment: The Ocular Surface Disease Index and the Symptom Assessment in Dry Eye

Ophthalmology. 2015 Jul;122(7):1498-503. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2015.02.037. Epub 2015 Apr 8.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare patient-reported symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) as assessed by the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), a 12-item symptom frequency-based questionnaire, and the Symptom Assessment iN Dry Eye (SANDE), a 2-item frequency- and severity-based visual analog scale.

Design: Clinic-based evaluation of a diagnostic test.

Participants: A total of 114 patients with DED.

Methods: Patients were administered the OSDI and SANDE questionnaires at baseline and follow-up visits to evaluate DED-related symptoms. The correlations between both questionnaires' scores were evaluated using the Spearman coefficient, and their clinical differences were assessed using Bland-Altman analysis.

Main outcome measures: Baseline and follow-up visit OSDI and SANDE dry eye symptom scores.

Results: At the baseline visit, the OSDI and SANDE questionnaire scores were significantly correlated (R = 0.64; P < 0.001). Moreover, a significant correlation was found between changes in the OSDI and SANDE scores from baseline to follow-up visits (R = 0.47; P < 0.001). A Bland-Altman analysis, after score normalization, revealed a difference (bias) of less than 2 centesimal units between the scores of the 2 questionnaires.

Conclusions: Data collected from the SANDE questionnaire showed a significant correlation and negligible score differences with those from the OSDI, suggesting that the SANDE visual analog scale-based questionnaire has the potential to provide clinicians with a short, quick, and reliable measure for DED symptoms.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological*
  • Dry Eye Syndromes / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sickness Impact Profile*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*
  • Symptom Assessment