Relationship between OSDI questionnaire and ocular surface changes in glaucomatous patients

To evaluate the quality of life of glaucoma patients using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire and their association with dry eye clinical signs.

The study included patients into three groups. The treated group diagnosed with bilateral open-angle glaucoma and treated with one or more topical medication at least 1 year. The operated group underwent glaucoma surgery without the need for topical medications. The control group entered subjects without ocular diseases or previous surgeries. Dry eye clinical signs were evaluated; noninvasive tear break-up time, Meibomian gland depletion (MGD), and conjunctival hyperemia were measured using the Keratograph 5 M. The total-OSDI (T-OSDI) score was divided into the visual field-OSDI and discomfort-OSDI scores.

Two hundred and nine subjects participated in this cross-sectional study, 147 using glaucoma medications, 21 patients underwent glaucoma surgery and 41 were controls. The T-OSDI and subscores were higher in glaucoma patients compared with controls (p < 0.05); we found no differences between treated and surgically groups. Correlations were observed between the T-OSDI values and Schirmer test (p = 0.016), ocular surface staining (p < 0.001) and the MGD (p = 0.006). The subscores were associated with the ocular surface staining (VF p = 0.013 and D p = 0.003). In treated patients, the number of drops per day correlates with T-OSDI and subscores (p = 0.017 and p = 0.005).

OSDI scores increased in the glaucoma patients compared to controls without significant changes between treated and surgical patients. OSDI scores were associated to dry eye signs and medication in glaucoma patients.