Evaluation of Prevalence and Associated Factors of Dry Eye Syndrome among Medical Students Exposed to Visual Display Terminal in Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Introduction: Dry eye syndrome (DES) has become a public health concern, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical students are at risk due to an increase in visual display terminal (VDT) exposure given the transition to full-time online lectures. The presence of reduced blink rate and tear film instability in VDT users causes an increase in tear evaporation leading to symptoms of DES. This study helps us to learn about the associated factors of VDT use and DES among the young generation. This study aims to determine the prevalence and associated factors of DES among medical students exposed to VDT at the health campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 140 undergraduate medical students aged 22 to 29 years old who were VDT users. Factors analysed are age, gender, race and duration of VDT usage. Data collection included both subjective assessment (OSDI questionnaire) and objective assessment (TBUT and Schirmer's test). Statistical analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS Inc Version 24). Results were analysed using descriptive analysis and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Most of the medical student cohort was female and Malay. Most of the students use VDT for less than 8 hours. A high incidence of DES was noted among medical students (92.1%). None of the factors showed significant association with positive findings DES by subjective and objective assessment and duration of VDT usage. Conclusion: DES is common among VDT users. This study showed a high prevalence of DES among medical students in USM. The factors analysed did not show a significant association between DES and duration of VDT usage. This study may help to recognize the problem and will raise awareness of their daily practice and implement preventive measures to avoid VDT-related DES. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Malaysian Journal of Medicine & Health Sciences is the property of Universiti Putra Malaysia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Сases of lacrimal system affection after Coronavirus infection

In the present article, cases of lacrimal apparatus conditions emerging after a new Coronavirus infection COVID-19. The aim of the study is to determine the causes of epiphora in patients after Coronavirus infection. 26 patients (30 eyes) were examined, aged from 28 to 70 years, complaining of tearing, which emerged for the first time ever not earlier than 5–14 days from the onset of the laboratory-confirmed Coronavirus infection COVID-19, which had a mild or a moderately severe course and was accompanied by anosmia. In patients, following conditions of the lacrimal system were revealed: in 22 patients, there were pathological changes of the horizontal portion of lacrimal pathways;in 6 people dry eye syndrome was diagnosed: in 3 people, it was of mild severity, manifested by hyperlacrimia, 3 people had moderate severity of the dry eye syndrome. As concomitant, following signs were revealed: in 7 patients — rhinologic conditions were present, in 2 people — neurologic signs. In the examined group of patients with epiphora, we found that in 1.5–3 month after Coronavirus infection COVID-19 with anosmia, as a common sign of the disease in more than a half of cases, a development of pathological changes of the horizontal portion of lacrimal pathways was revealed. © 2022, Eco-Vector LLC. All rights reserved.

Online education and dry eye disease during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze changes in the frequency and incidence of dry eye disease (DED) and screen exposure times during the onset of online courses, moreover, compare these changes between sexes. Secondarily, correlate online courses screen exposure times with the severity of DED symptoms. Method(s): Four identical surveys, each containing the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) which quantifies DED symptom severity, and questions which categorized screen exposure times, were applied throughout 6 weeks. University students who had transitioned from face-to-face courses to online platforms were included in the study. Result(s): DED frequency among the 97 subjects (54 women and 43 men) peaked on week 4 (82.47%). OSDI scores significantly increased throughout the study (p < 0.0001) (baseline, 27.01 +/- 17.55 versus Week 6, 37.17 +/- 24.64), reflecting symptom worsening along an incidence of 8.5%. This worsening of symptoms occurred with women (p < 0.0001), while, in male subjects, it did not (p = 0.11);significant differences between sexes were found during the baseline (p = 0.01), Week 2 (p = 0.02), and Week 6 (p = 0.008), but not on Week 4 (p = 0.11). Online courses onset significantly increased screen exposure time (p < 0.0001). The baseline hours were 25.52 +/- 11.33 and peaked on Week 2, being 34.62 +/- 10.90. OSDI scores and online courses exposure times correlated significantly (Week 2, R = 0.265;Week 4, R = 0.262;and Week 6, R = 0.205). Conclusion(s): University students suffer from severe DED symptoms, which correlate with online courses onset. Educational institutions should foster ocular health.Copyright © 2022 Authors. All rights reserved.

Mask-associated Dry Eye Syndrome in Healthcare Professionals as a New Complication Caused by the Prolonged Use of Masks during Covid-19 Pandemic Period.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the prevalence of self-reported mask-associated dry eye (MADE) in health-care professionals and the possible risk factors that give rise to MADE. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire consisting of 12 questions about MADE and possible risk factors that give rise to MADE was created on web-based "google forms" application, and was then sent to 437 healthcare professionals working in a coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic hospital, using common telecommunication devices. RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty-three of the 437 health-care professionals, who answered the questionnaire, were included in the study. The prevalence of self-reported MADE among these health-care professionals was found to be 70% (n = 233). Having at least one of the symptoms of dry eye while not having a mask on and advanced age were determined as the possible risk factors for MADE (p = .02 and p < .001, respectively). The clinical examinations of the 195 participants, who had self-reported MADE and accepted the invitation to undergo a clinical evaluation with respect to the symptoms of MADE, revealed that only 60 (30.7%) of these participants had aqueous-type dryness with staining on the ocular surface with fluorescein. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of self-reported MADE among health-care professionals can be attributed to the prolonged use of masks associated with longer working hours. Therefore, it is important that the ocular complaints of professionals are addressed by ophthalmology consultants/ophthalmologists during these difficult times.

Prevalence of Dry Eye Symptoms and Associated Risk Factors among University Students in Poland.

Aim: The aim of the study was to demonstrate the prevalence and risk factors of dry eye symptoms (DES) among university students in Poland. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study survey was conducted among 312 Polish university students. The questionnaire consisted of the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), the 5-Item Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5) and questions regarding medical history and risk factors. Results: According to the OSDI, more than half of respondents (57.1%) have symptoms of ocular surface disease. Time spent using electronic devices is correlated with scores gathered in both OSDI and DEQ-5 (p < 0.001). There is a statistically significant dependence between psychotropics (p = 0.002), glucocorticosteroids usage (p = 0.026), the presence of depression (p < 0.001), diabetes (p = 0.01) or allergy (p = 0.008) and dry eye symptoms proved in both questionnaires. Respondents with refractive errors and those living in metropolitan areas have a statistically higher symptom intensity(p < 0.022). Stress felt by students is associated with higher DES risk. No correlation between DES and smoking habits was observed. The history of SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with the severity of DES (p = 0.036). Conclusion: Pathogenesis of DES is multifactorial and its severity depends on several factors, both genetic and environmental. Its prevalence among the young population is underestimated. Determining risk factors will enable the implementation of appropriate prophylaxis and early diagnosis.

Digital device use, dry eye and quality of life in youth

Purpose: Excessive screen use is a pervasive global phenomenon, recently aggravated by COVID-19-related mobility restrictions. Wide-ranging implications for health and quality of life are linked to extended screen time, the early onset of which may place young people at risk. This study evaluated screen use habits, dry eye disease markers and the associated impacts on quality of life and vision in a young cohort of extended screen users. Method(s): A total of 456 attendees of a gaming convention in Auckland, New Zealand completed a self-directed iPad-based survey on personal screen use habits, ocular symptoms and quality of life. Habitual blinking was assessed covertly using the front-facing iPad camera and proxy tear film stability measurements were conducted. Result(s): Participants (aged 24+/-10, 38% female, 11% contact lens wearers) reported a weekly average screen time of 44+/-24 hours. When compared to non-lens wearers, contact lens wearers reported a higher impact severity on daily quality of life (38% vs 29%), on vision-related quality of life (40% vs 31%) and more severe and frequent dryness symptoms (42% vs 32%;all p<0.009). Overall, 27% of respondents qualified as symptomatic for dry eye disease based on a Dry Eye Questionnaire-5 (DEQ-5) score >= 6 and proxy tear film stability values of <10 seconds. Extended screen use was associated with ocular symptomology, blink frequency and proxy tear film stability (all p<0.05). Conclusion(s): Young participants commonly report extended habitual screen use that are associated with typical symptoms and signs of dry eye disease, as well as significant impacts on quality of life. This may place youth at risk of deteriorating ocular health and comfort, underlining a pressing need for evidence to guide policy development on safe screen use, and for screening and educational interventions around screen use in routine clinical practice. Copyright © 2022

Covid-19 protective measures, teleworking and face masks: the effect on dry eye in contact lens and non-contact lens wearers

Purpose: To evaluate how covid-19 protective measures in Greece, especially teleworking and use of face masks, affect dry eye syndrome (DES) in contact lens (CLW) and non-contact lens (non-CLW) wearers. Method(s): In this cross-sectional study, two specially modified and reliable (Cronbach's Alpha) questionnaires were distributed electronically. The effects of teleworking, use of face masks and their combination on DES were studied. Amongst others, face mask use and duration, change of workplace and type of CL used were investigated. ANOVA statistics, x2 tests and non-parametric tests were performed. Result(s): 121 subjects completed the study, 44 CLW and 77 non-CLW. In the CLW group, teleworking showed statistically significant higher DES (p = 0.011). Additionally, dryer workplace (p = 0.007) and use of frequent replacement contact lenses (CL) other than monthlies (p = 0.014) increased DES. In the non-CLW group, teleworking (p < 0.0001) and the combination of teleworking and use of face masks (p = 0.003) showed statistically significant higher DES. Longer teleworking hours led to higher DES (p = 0.034) and higher eye discomfort (p = 0.015);when this was combined with face masks, the eye discomfort was even higher (p = 0.038). Finally, in between CLW and non-CLW, when they were under the combination of teleworking and face mask use, a statistically significant difference in eye discomfort (p < 0.0001) and in eye dryness (p = 0.010) was found, with very intense symptoms (p = 0.007 and 0.009 respectively). Conclusion(s): Analogous to international studies, face mask use and lengthy use of electronic devices led to elevated DES in both CLW and non-CLW;the novelty of this study is that examines also the two in combination. The even higher eye discomfort found should motivate CL practitioners to inform CLW and non-CLW better during this covid-19 pandemic. Copyright © 2022

Prevalence Of Symptomatic Dry Eye Disease Among Undergraduate Medical Students After Covid 19 Pandemic In A Tertiary Care Hospital Kanchipuram-A Cr0ss Sectional Study

Background: Dry eye disease (DED) is considered as one of the most prevalent ophthalmological illnesses, caused by a number of systemic and ocular etiologies, including meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Medical students are among the high-risk group for developing DED during the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily because visual display terminals (VDTs) are being used more frequently for online courses. During the Covid 19 pandemic curfew there is anincrease in usage of digital devices for mandatory e-learning leads to increased exposure of screen time among medical students. Objective(s):The aim of this study to estimate the prevalence of DED among undergraduate medical students. Methodology:A prospective, Cross Sectional Study was conducted among 250 UG students. After getting informed consent all participants were assessed using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, Routine ophthalmological examination along with schrimer test and tear film break-up time (TBUT) as a screening tool for detecting DED.The Data thus collected is entered in Microsoft excel sheet & analyzed using SPSS software version 22.0.Descriptive statistics were applied to summarize the demographic data. Chi-square tests were used for comparisons between categorical variables. Result(s):Among the 250 students 104 (41.6%) were males and 146 (58.4%) were females with the Mean age was 21.17 +/- 1.2. The prevalence of dry eye disease among study participants was 56.8% (142). On OSDI classification of severity grading 89(41.6%) students had mild DED, 48(13.2%) of students had moderate DED and 5 (21.0%) of students had severe DED. Conclusion(s):The study highlighted the drastic increase in use of digital devices after the initiation of the COVID-19 lockdown and there is an increase in prevalence of DED among medical students. Awareness about prevention of digital eye strain should be enforced to bring these adverse effects to a minimum level. Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.

Pathogenetic mechanisms of dry eye syndrome in a novel coronavirus infection caused by SARS-CoV-2

The goal of this review was to analyze current knowledge on dry eye disease pathogenesis in a novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2. Arguments are presented in favor of several possible pathogenic mechanisms of the disease development: inflammation and/or microcirculatory disorders aggravated by exposure to electromagnetic radiation of personal computers and by use of personal protective equipment.

Evaluation of dry eye disease after COVID-19 infection

Purpose : A prospective observational clinical study was performed to evaluate ocular symptoms related to dry eye disease (DED) in patients infected with COVID-19. Methods : The staff of an University Hospital in Londrina city, Brazil, who presented respiratory symptoms and underwent nasal swab PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 detection at the outpatient unit during November to December 2020 was assessed by electronic messages and separated in two groups (PCR test negative or control group-CG, and PCR test positive or COVID-19 group-COVG). Sociodemographic data, presence of ocular and systemic comorbidities, place of treatment (home, infirmary or intensive care unit), and the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, translated and validated to Portuguese for DED evaluation were performed. OSDI contains 3 subsections including visual-related function (category A), ocular symptoms (category B) and environmental triggers (category C). Scores range from 0 to 100 with 0 to 12 representing normal, 13 to 22 mild DED, 23 to 32 moderate DED and 33 severe DED. The data was submitted to statistical analysis. Results : From 450 electronic messages sent, 113 patients were included. 62(54,85%) had laboratory-confirmed (RT-PCR) Covid-19. The mean age was 36 years, ranging from 21 to 60 years. 83 (73.4%) patients were female. The main systemic comorbidity was smoking (23%), followed by obesity (3.5%) and hypertension (1.76%). The mean OSDI score was 13.85 in the COVG and 5.37 in the CG (p=0.002). The COVG had a mean score of 3.50 related to category A, 1.05 to category B and 2.13 to category C while the CG presented a mean score of 1.41, 0.39 and 0.80 respectively (p = 0.003;p=0.04;p=0.01). Patients who required hospitalization for treatment presented OSDI score proportionally greater than those who were treated at home (25.67) (p=0.052). Conclusions : OSDI score was higher in the COVG and among patients who required hospitalization for treatment. These results suggest association of COVID infection and DED;and increase of DED according to the severity of respiratory symptoms.

DRY EYE SYNDROME PREVALENCE RATE DURING COVID-19

Purpose : Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) has been increased during the pandemic, as a result of wearing masks using electronic devices and working remotely. During COVID-19, we conducted a survey to determine the prevalence of dry eye syndrome. Methods : This is a cross-sectional study to determine how frequent DES is during COVID19 in healthy patients in the United States between the ages of 20 and 45. From October 31, 2021, to December 1, 2021, we administered an Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire remotely to 40 subjects. The OSDI survey was used to assess DES. Results : Subjects had a mean age of 29 years old ± SD 14.14 and 23 of them were males (57.5%), and 17 were females (42.5%). Low DES, moderate DES, and severe DES had a prevalence rate of 15%, 77.5 %, and 7.5 %, respectively, according to the OSDI Survey. 50 % are White, 35 % are African Americans, 7.5 % are Asian, and 7.5% are Hispanic. The prevalence of mild DES during COVID is 77.5%, with 64.50 % of males and 35.50% of females. Conclusions : The prevalence rate of DES during COVID is high which contribute to the fact of wearing the mask, the use of electronic devices and working remotely.

Dry eye masky syndrome: degree of expression and possibilities of correction

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, to ensure the safety of ourselves and others, personal protective equipment — various types of masks — has firmly entered our daily lives. Purpose to conduct a clinical and sociological study of the severity of the dry eye syndrome in medical personnel and medical students against the background of the use of personal protective equipment and to assess the possibilities of its correction using tear replacement therapy. Materials and methods. 138 medical staff and 149 students were analyzed. A survey was conducted to identify risk factors for the development of the dry eye syndrome. The total tear production was determined using the Schirmer I test at the beginning and after 8 hours of the working day in medical personnel and students before and after a 6-hour lesson. To study the possibility of correcting the dry eye syndrome, students were offered instillations of the tear substitute Gylan 0.18% 3 times a day. At this stage of the study, 2 questionnaires were used to assess the severity of DES symptoms: OSDI and DEQ, Schirmer I test. Results. Most of the study participants noted the constant wearing of masks (86.4 % of doctors and 84.8 % of nurses). At the beginning of the study, 45.1 % of doctors and 51.9 % of nursing staff, 45.6 % of students had indicators of total tear production below the reference values. At the end of working hours, doctors (90.9 %), nurses (88.6 %) and students (69.2 %) showed a decrease in the total tear production of varying severity. The use of a tear substitute made it possible to increase the indicators of total tear production: 10 days after treatment, an increase was observed in 45.7% of cases (but the values were in the range of 10—14 mm), in 31.4 % of cases they reached 15 mm or more and exceeded the initial values (p < 0.05);reduce the symptoms of dry eye: the number of students with DEQ questionnaire syndrome dry eye at the beginning of the study (62.9 %) decreased by 3.2 times. Conclusions: the conducted study allows us to speak about the currently available riskfactorfor the development of the dry eye syndrome: personal respiratory protective equipment has a negative impact on the indicators of total tear production. Appointment of tear replacement therapy allowed to improve thefunctional indicators of tears and quality of life. It is necessary to develop and implement measures aimed at identifying and preventing the development of the dry eye syndrome not only among medical personnel, but also among the population as a whole. © 2022, Real Time LLC. All rights reserved.

Ocular manifestations in acute COVID-19 patients with severe or extremely severe course of disease

Purpose: to study ocular manifestations in acute CO VID-19 patients with severe or extremely severe course. Materials and methods. 112patients with severe and extremely severe course ofC O V ID-19 treated in the 2nd Zangiota specialized clinicfo r Covid patients underwent an ophthalmic examination. Results. Hyperemia of palpebral edges was found in 20 patients (17.8 %), tarsal conjunctiva hyperemia was found in 54 patients (48.2 %), whereas 11 patients (9.8%) had symptoms of eyeball conjunctiva hyperemia. 2 7 patients (24.1 %), complained of pain in the projection of external muscle tendons attachments during eyeball palpitation. Retinal angiopathy of varied genesis were found in 57 patients (50.9 %). Blurred edges of the optic nerve and smoothness of physiological excavation were observed in 11 patients (9.8 %). We were able to trace the medical history of 25patents over two months after the discharge. Ofthese, 17 patients (68%) visited an ophthalmologist and were diagnosed with dry eye syndrome, and 1 patient was diagnosed with uveitis. 4 patients complained of blurred vision, disorientation and memory loss. 1 patient was f ound to have episcleritis. 3 patients (12%) complained o f a dramatic decrease of vision in one eye, ptosis, swollen eyelid and exophthalmos. They were diagnosed with thrombosis of the cavernous sinus and superior orbital fissure syndrome. Conclusion. The main ophthalmic symptoms of the anterior segment of the eye in patients in the acute stage of COVID-19 with severe and extremely severe courses were manifestations of dry eye syndrome, short-term manifestation of tenonitis of oculomotor muscles. In 50 % cases, angiopathy of the anterior and the posterior segments of the eyeball were observed. Severe manifestations of general coagulopathy and angiopathy developing superior orbitalfissure syndrome were observed in 12 patients within weeks after the patient's dischargefrom the clinic. © 2022, Real Time LLC. All rights reserved.

Visual health and prevalence of dry eye syndrome among university students in Iraq and Jordan.

Dry eye syndrome (DES), is a multifactorial disease that affects the ocular surface and contributes to the ocular symptoms. The COVID-19 pandemic influenced the general population and university students' health in different ways. The pandemic forced many people including university students around the world to use virtual platforms on their digital devices, such as computers and smartphones, to work from a distance. This study aimed to explore the visual health and prevalence of dry eye syndrome among university students in Iraq and Jordan. This was a cross-sectional study that was conducted in Iraq and Jordan using online questionnaire tool for the duration between November 2021 and January 2022. University students in Jordan and Iraq were invited to participate in this study and formed the study population. No restrictions on study level or field of study were applied. A previously developed and validated questionnaire tools were used in this study (National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire - 25 (VFQ-25) and the Women's Health Study Questionnaire (WHS), which was developed by Schaumberg et al.). A total of 1,431 university students were involved in this study (1,018 students from Iraq, 71.1%). Around one third the study participants (29.0%) reported that have been diagnosed by a clinician as having dry eye syndrome. Around15.3% of the total study participants reported that they feel their eyes are dry (not wet enough) and 17.3% reported that they feel their eyes are irritated. Based on Women's Health Study Questionnaire (WHS) criteria, a total of 479 participants (33.4%) are symptomatically diagnosed with DES. Students aged 27-29 years, those at their fifth year of study, and those who wear contact lenses are at higher risk of developing DYS compared to others. Dry eye syndrome is common health problem among university students. Further studies are required to identify other risk factors associated with DES. Future research should focus on identifying strategies that could help reduce the risk of developing DES as a result of the inevitability of long-term use of digital devices among many categories of society, including university students.

Knowledge Towards the Impact of Indoor Environment and Lifestyle on Dry Eye

This research aims to measure the level of Knowledge (symptoms, complications, prevention, potential indoor environmental risk factors, the 20-20-20 rule) of dry eye syndrome DES among adults in Malaysia. Data were gathered from a random sample of 315 Malaysian adults in Klang Valley. The study participants were 18 to 60 years [mean (± SD) age = 34 ± 8]. Females represented a slightly higher percentage of the sample (55.66%). Of the 318 participants, most respondents (65.5%, n = 208) had a bad knowledge about dry eye syndrome. Only 86 adults had good Knowledge about the impact of the indoor environment and lifestyle on dry eye syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings revealed that, MAs’ knowledge significantly differ by participant’s qualification (χ2 = 27.6, p=0.002), age (χ2 = 15.4, p=0.018). Education level and age were associated with Knowledge (p< 0.05). Results revealed significant determinants of good Knowledge about the DES in the age group 29-39 years with (OR: 1.647, 95%CI: 1.097-2.471, P =0.016). Adults who are living in Kuala Lumpur, Gombak. And Klang & Petaling have similar odds of good Knowledge compared to other living areas. Finally, the health sector was a potential predictor of good Knowledge (OR: 4.246,95%CI: 1.781-10.124, P=0.001). Nevertheless, none of the other demographical variables had a potential predictor of good Knowledge about dry eye syndrome. Therefore, healthcare professionals should raise public awareness regarding dry eye illness problems, especially on potential indoor environmental risk factors.

Some aspects of the state of student health in connection with the use of distance education technologies

Introduction. Distance education means a way of organizing education based on the use of information and communication technologies which make it possible to perform remote learning without a direct face-to-face contact between a teacher and students. The new coronavirus pandemic has caused distance learning to become a reality in the modern education system. However, in the course of application of such a teaching format, it has been revealed electronic digital devices to negatively affect students’ health. However, in the course of such a teaching format, there emerge certain negative factors which influence on the student health. In this regard, there is a need for up-to-date hygiene standards that promote the regulation of education based on distance technologies. The study objective. To assess the impact of distance learning on the health of students of general educational institutions. Materials and methods. 135 students of grades 6–8, 10 of general educational organizations were surveyed to identify the features of learning mode and daily routine in general, the information education during distance learning and deviations from the normal state of health. An ophthalmological examination was performed using a Shin Nippon XL-1 hand-held slit lamp, OMEGA 500 Unplugged Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscope, ophthalmological tonometer «TVGD-02», hardware and software complex KPA-01 «Zrenie». Results. A revealed negative tendency indicates to the deterioration of the students’ vision over a short period of distance education (November–December 2020) in general educational institutions of the Nizhny Novgorod region. Besides, distance learning triggers physical and emotional overload as well as mental overstrain. Limitations. The impact of distance learning on children and adolescents’ health was studied on a group of students in grades 6–8, 10 of two general educational institutions in Nizhny Novgorod, which is a sufficiently representative sample. Conclusion. The obtained results of the study can be used to support the hygienic requirements for the management of distance learning in general educational institutions. © 2022 Izdatel'stvo Meditsina. All rights reserved.

Role of Neutrophils on the Ocular Surface.

The ocular surface is a gateway that contacts the outside and receives stimulation from the outside. The corneal innate immune system is composed of many types of cells, including epithelial cells, fibroblasts, natural killer cells, macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, mast cells, basophils, eosinophils, mucin, and lysozyme. Neutrophil infiltration and degranulation occur on the ocular surface. Degranulation, neutrophil extracellular traps formation, called NETosis, and autophagy in neutrophils are involved in the pathogenesis of ocular surface diseases. It is necessary to understand the role of neutrophils on the ocular surface. Furthermore, there is a need for research on therapeutic agents targeting neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular trap formation for ocular surface diseases.

Impact of coronavirus in a dermatology outpatient clinic: a single-center retrospective study

Objective: Increased anxiety among individuals following the declaration of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, changes in social life, and dermatological eruptions caused or triggered by the COVID-19 infection have altered the incidence of dermatological diseases. To determine the impact of the pandemic, this study evaluated changes in the frequency, profile, and diagnostic spectrum of dermatology patients during the pandemic compared to the previous year. Materials and Methods: This study compared a 6-month period from March 2020, when the first COVID-19 case was reported in Turkey, to September 2020, with the same period in 2019. Age, sex, diagnosis groups, and diagnoses were recorded and compared with the previous year.

Patient Experiences and Insights on Chronic Ocular Pain from a Social Media Listening Study

Objective: To identify the perceived causes for chronic ocular pain (COP) (≥3 months pain duration), its impact on quality of life (QoL) and understand the patient journey from social media posts. Methods: In this retrospective study, publicly available social media conversations were identified from searches triaged by a combination of automated relevancy keyword algorithm and manual review, and subsequently analyzed post anonymizing for COP content. Twitter, forums, and other (Facebook, Blogs, etc.) platforms were leveraged for the time period February 2020 to February 2021. Results: A total of 464 (UK=208, US=175, Canada=65 and Australia=16) patient/caregiver conversations on COP were identified. Top discussion points were symptoms (62%) and causes of COP (58%). Ocular factors (including dry eye disease, thyroid/Graves’ disease, and ocular surgeries) contributed to ∼46% of causes identified, while non-ocular factors (including migraine, COVID, and side-effects/withdrawal of medications) contributed to ∼54%. The most commonly mentioned symptoms (555) were headache/head pressures (96), dry/gritty eyes (67), light sensitivity (34), insomnia (29), and redness/pink eyes (28). Symptoms impacted all aspects of patients’ QoL: physical day-to-day activities such as reading, driving, and sleeping;emotional wellbeing such as depression/hopelessness, frustration/anger, fear, and suicidal thoughts;functional wellbeing such as difficulty at work/study place, reduced productivity or having to quit their job;social impacts such as being irritated around people, and having a less active social life. Eye drops (58/140 mentions) are the most commonly mentioned treatment option. Common coping strategies mentioned were blue-light filter glasses/eyeglasses (17), and hot compresses (11). Key unmet needs mentioned by patients were failed, improper, delayed diagnosis (62), and lack of effective treatments or appropriate management (30). Conclusion: Insights from this study reported patients’ experiences, concerns, and the adverse impact on overall QoL. The results can help in better understanding the patients’ perspective, which can be considered during drug development.