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

ABSTRACT

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.

KEYWORDS:

• Covid-19
• dry eye syndrome
• healthcare professionals
• mask
• ocular surface

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Disclaimer

The authors have no proprietary interest in any of the materials used in this study. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.