Dry eye disease patients have high pain sensitivity

A new study published in JAMA Opthlamology reveals a link between pain sensitivity and pain tolerance and symptoms of dry eye disease. The study was conducted at the University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,622 female twin participants ranging in age between 20 and 83 years. Researchers examined whether pain sensitivity plays a role in patients' experience of dry eye symptoms. A subset of 689 participants completed the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire and quantitative sensory testing was used to determine pain sensitivity and pain tolerance. Results showed that 27% of the participants had Dry Eye Disease (DED) and those subjects had a significantly lower heat threshold pain (HPT) and heat pain suprathreshold (HPST). These results directly correlated with the results of the OSDI. Participants who had an HPT below the median were almost twice as likely to experience DED pain symptoms. The results indicate a need for physicians to consider the patient's overall health rather than just treat the ocular symptoms. VisiVite offers its patented Dry Eye Relief to help relieve dry eye symptoms. Click HERE to Try Dry Eye Relief*