Association between dry eye symptoms and suicidal ideation in a Korean adult population

Abstract

PurposeThis study assessed the association of dry eyes with depression and suicidal ideation in a Korean adult population.MethodsData from 16408 participants (6972 men and 9436 women) aged ≥ 19 years included in the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted from 2010–2012, were analyzed. For dry eyes, surveys of previous diagnosis of dry eye disease (DED) by an ophthalmologist and experience of subjective dry eye symptoms were separately used. Diagnosis of depression and suicidal ideation were obtained via responses to an interviewer-assisted questionnaire, and questions were asked in a closed-ended response format. Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between dry eyes, depression, and suicidal ideation.ResultsDED diagnosis exhibited an odds ratio (OR) of 1.32 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11–1.57) for depression and 1.24 (95% CI 1.05–1.48) for suicidal ideation compared to those without DED, after adjusting for sex, age, education, occupation, household income, body mass index, smoking behavior, alcohol consumption, physical activity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, thyroid diseases, major cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Similarly, the adjusted OR (95% CI) of dry eye symptoms was 1.50 (95% CI 1.30–1.73) for depression and 1.47 (95% CI 1.27–1.70) for suicidal ideation.ConclusionOur findings suggest that dry eyes (either DED diagnosis or dry eye symptoms) may be associated with the prevalence of depression and suicidal ideation in the Korean adult population.

Dysfunctional Coping Mechanisms Contribute to Dry Eye Symptoms

“…A study using the Impact of Dry Eye on Everyday Life questionnaire found that DE symptoms associated with difficulties in physical, social, and mental functioning [36]. Symptoms have been found to impact various domains, including reading, professional work, computer use, television watching, and driving [37], and severe symptoms have even been linked to depression and suicidal ideation [38]. Likewise, a link between catastrophizing and functional interference (daily activities, mood, relationships, etc.)…”

Dry Eyes, Vision Problems, and Psychiatric Symptoms: Are We Missing Something?

“…Stanje suhog oka uključuje promjene u funkciji i sastavu suza te pogoršava kvalitetu i performanse vida što može dovesti do depresije (14). Općenito, SSO je često povezivan s depresijom, što je dobro potvrđeno na različitim uzorcima (3,6,11,(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)35,(39)(40)(41)(42)(43) uključujući i velike (44,45). Neki od rezultata čak pokazuju da je SSO dominantno povezan s porastom simptoma depresije u usporedbi s različitim poremećajima oka (9).…”

“…Dugorajno liječenje bipolarnog poremećaja stabilizatorima raspoloženja značajno utječe na stabilnost suznog filma i rezultira suhoćom oka (60). Klinički testovi su dokazali da upotreba antidepresiva može doprijeti znako-found to be associated with DED (15). Only a few studies dealt with bipolar disorder and DED, and the results were not particularly revealing, but they suggest that DED in bipolar disorder is a side-effect of medication.…”

“…Dry eye disease (DED) is one of the most rapidly increasing eye health problems which affects one-third of the general population (5) and has been frequently associated with a variety of psychological factors in the last decade (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18).…”

What’s new in dry eye disease diagnosis? Current advances and challenges

“…Symptom severity correlates positively with patient-reported depression, anxiety, and stress scores 8– 11 . Increased suicidal ideation in patients with severe DED underscores the extreme impact that DED can have on quality of life 12 .…”