Ocular Microbiology and Immunology Group
Back to OMIG Main Page

2014 Agenda and Abstracts | < Previous

2014 OMIG Abstract 25

Dry Eye Symptom Severity and Persistence are Associated with
Features of Neuropathic Pain
Walter SD^1,2, Zlotcavitch L², Felix ER^1,3, Feuer W², Martin ER^4,5, Patin DJ⁶, Margolis TP⁷,
Sarantopoulos KD^1,6, Levitt RC^1,4,5,6, Galor A^1,2
1Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center, Miami, FL, ²Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL, ³Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, ⁴John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, ⁵John T Mac-donald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, ⁶Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine and Pain Management, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, ⁷Departement of Ophthalmology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO

Purpose: To evaluate whether self-reported ocular neuropathic pain (ONP) features associated with dry eye severity and chronicity.

Methods: Cohort study involving male patients seen in the Miami Veterans Affairs eye clinic. A baseline evaluation was performed consisting of the dry eye questionnaire 5 (DEQ5) and ocular surface evaluation. Mild dry eye symptoms were defined as a DEQ5 score≥6; severe symptoms were defined as a DEQ5 score≥12. Patients were contacted two or more years later to repeat the DEQ5 and complete questionnaires that further characterized their eye pain. ONP features were defined as dysesthesia, photoallodynia or hyperalgesia to wind/temperature. We analyzed the relationship between ONP features and dry eye symptom severity and chronicity.

Results: 102 patients with mild-to-severe dry eye symptoms were evaluated. 61% complained of one or more features of ONP. The presence ONP correlated with significantly higher dry eye symptom scores at both visits (p<0.05 for all). Patients with symptoms described as hot-burning pain and/or hypersensitivity to wind were more likely to report severe symptoms at both time points (odds ratio (OR) 5.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-27.9 and OR 7.6, 95% CI 1.9-32.1 respectively).

Conclusions: Pain and ONP features are common in patients with symptomatic dry eye and these features are correlated with symptom severity and chronicity.

Support: Career Development Award CDA-2-024-10S (AG), NIH Center Core Grant P30EY014801, Research to Prevent Blindness Unrestricted Grant, Dept of Defense Grant#W81XWH-09-1-0675 and Grant# W81XWH-13-1-0048 ONOVA, NIH NIDCR R01 DE022903 (RL).

2014 Agenda and Abstracts | < Previous