Purpose: To determine the relationship between dry eye disease (DED) and depressive symptoms in a nationally representative sample of Korean women.
Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study comprised 6655 women (aged 19 years or older) participating in the fifth annual Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2010 to 2011. Psychological problems associated with clinically diagnosed DED by ophthalmologists and symptoms of DED were assessed using questionnaires and surveys. Data were analyzed using logistic regression to determine the association of depression with allergic disease while controlling for age, lifestyle factors, and medical factors.
Results: Among the participants, the prevalence of clinically diagnosed DED and its symptoms was 12.3% and 20.0%, respectively. Subjects with the diagnosis had a higher likelihood of experiencing severe psychological stress [odds ratio (OR), 2.5; 95% confidential interval (CI), 1.6-4.0], depressive mood (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.0), anxiety/depression problems (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.0) and tended to have a history of psychological counseling (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.0-3.1). Subjects with symptoms of DED showed similar patterns.
Conclusions: There is a close association between depression, stress, and DED in women who have been clinically diagnosed with it or those presenting with its symptoms.