Does Long-Term Night Shift Work Cause Dry Eye in Hospital Nurses?

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Occupational Health
• Nursing

Background:

• Dry eye disease is a prevalent condition affecting quality of life.
• Night shift work is common in healthcare professions, particularly among nurses.
• The impact of night shift work on ocular surface health is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the long-term effects of night shift work on the prevalence and severity of dry eye disease in hospital nurses.
• To assess the relationship between night shift schedules and specific dry eye indicators.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of hospital nurses working night shifts was evaluated.
• Ocular surface health was assessed using the tear break-up time (TBUT) test and the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire.
• Measurements were taken at four time points: beginning and end of day shifts, and beginning and end of night shifts.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in TBUT and OSDI were observed between the end of day shifts and the end of night shifts.
• Dry eye severity, indicated by lower TBUT and higher OSDI scores, increased after night shifts.
• A significant positive correlation was found between TBUT and OSDI across all measurement times, indicating a consistent relationship between tear stability and reported symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Night shift work exacerbates dry eye symptoms in hospital nurses.
• The severity of dry eye fluctuates over a 24-hour period, with notable increases following night shifts.
• Findings highlight the need for interventions to mitigate dry eye risks for night-working nurses.