I am pleased to share our newly published paper in Frontiers in Medicine:
โToward a clearer vision: Epidemiology and symptom-based clinical patterns of dry eye disease in the Saudi population.โ
In this national cross-sectional study of 1,009 participants, we provide a comprehensive epidemiological assessment of Dry Eye Disease (DED) in Saudi Arabia and identify key modifiable and demographic risk factors.
๐ Key Findings:
โข Prolonged digital device use was the strongest predictor of increased symptom burden across all domains (p < 0.001).
โข Female gender showed significantly higher eye discomfort and irritation/dryness scores (p < 0.001).
โข Younger adults (18โ34 years) reported the highest symptom severity and activity limitations.
โข Outdoor workers demonstrated significantly higher symptom and eye discomfort scores compared to indoor workers (p < 0.001).
โข Sociodemographic factors such as marital status, employment, and education level showed moderate but significant associations.
โข Irritation/Dryness was the most affected symptom domain overall.
These findings reflect an important transition toward behavioral and digital risk factors as dominant drivers of ocular surface disease in contemporary Saudi society.
From a public health perspective, this supports the implementation of:
โ Workplace ergonomic policies
โ Digital exposure awareness programs
โ AI-enabled screening tools
โ Integration of ocular surface assessment into chronic disease management
๐ https://t.co/l8RA6PmqVU
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to my outstanding co-authors and collaborators whose expertise and commitment made this work possible:
Dr. Ahmed Mousa
Dr. Hala A. Alosimi
Dr. Rana A. Alosimi
Dr. Abrar A. Alhawsawi
Dr. Reem AlKhargi
Dr. Amera S. AlQahtani
Dr. Raniah S. Alotibi
Dr. Sulaiman I. Alquwayfili
Prof. Sajjad Ahmad
Prof. Edward P. Deepak
This work reflects strong multidisciplinary collaboration across clinical ophthalmology, epidemiology, and population health aligned with Vision 2030 goals for preventive healthcare and improved quality of life.
Grateful to all participants and partner institutions who contributed to this national effort.
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