| Objective To describe the prevalence and characteristics of dry eye among Hans and Uighurs who lived in Kashi,the westernmost city of China.Methods This was a cross-sectional study.1015 permanent residence of Kashi were invited to participate in the study from September 2014 to September 2015.Every study subject completed a dry eye questionnaire.Slit-lamp microscopy examination,fluorescein staining of the cornea(FI),tear-film break-up time(BUT)test and Schirmer I test were performed to evaluate the clinical symptoms.Data were analyzed using SPSS.Chi-square test and logistic regression were performed to evaluate the differences between various groups.Results Overall,27.8%(282/1015)of the subjects were diagnosed as dry eye.The prevalence of dry eye in the Han ethnic group(37.9%)was higher than that in the Uighurs(21.8%).The prevalence of dry eye was 25.6%(77/301)among males,and 28.7%(205/714)among females.Among those older than 60-years-old,woman had a higher prevalence of having dry eye than man.The risk factors for dry eye were ethnic groups,arthritis and dry mouth.The dry eye patients most suffered with the symptoms of dryness,watering or tearing eye,and redness.Sticky feeling was the most helpful clinical sign in the diagnosis of dry eye.Conclusions This is a report of population-based dry eye prevalence that includes symptoms and signs in the ethnic minority of China.The prevalence of dry eye in the Han nationality was higher than that in the Uighurs.Our results suggested possible genetic differences between Uighur and Han ethnic groups in the susceptibility of having dry eye.The associated factors of dry eye were ethnic groups,climates,age,gender,occupation,arthritis and dry mouth. |
