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Purpose. To study the influence of personal protective equipment (PPE) of the respiratory and visual systems on the development and progression of dry eye syndrome (DES) and its relationship with other risk factors for medical workers.Patients and methods. The data of 243 people (male — 22.2 %, female — 77.8 %) were analyzed as part of a multi-center analytical scientific one-step study. Total tear production (Schirmer I test) was studied at the beginning and the end of the working day in persons used PPE of respiratory system (disposable medical face mask, gauze masks or different types of respirators), as well as PPE of the eyes (protective half-closed/closed glasses or protective screens). Risk factors for the development and progression of DES were registered (age, smoking, systemic hormones intake, soft contact lenses), as well as the use of artificial tears.Results. A decrease in the Schirmer I test score at the end of a 7–8 hour work shift was found by an average of 3 mm (from 13 (9; 16) mm to 10 (6; 15) mm, p < 0.001). Statistically significant changes were typical mainly for medical personnel (p < 0.001) with the maximum severity in persons working in outpatient sector. The presence of at least one DES risk factor was found in 30.5 % of patients, two factors — in 3.0 %, and three or more — in 7.0 %. There was no influence of risk factors on the degree of changes in total tear production. Reduced tear production is typical for some PPE of respiratory system (disposable masks and respirators) and the eye (screens and half-closed glasses) (p < 0.001). In people who do not use PPE of the eye, significant changes were detected only in the presence of risk factors.Conclusion. The negative influence of various PPE of the respiratory system and eye on the total tear production was established. The decrease in the results of the Schirmer I test by the end of the working day was 20–25 % of the basic level, regardless of the presence of traditional risk factors for DES. The severity of changes depended on the type of PPE used. The data obtained are particularly relevant during the new COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and justify the need to establish specific prophylactic measures. One of the possible methods is the preventive use of artificial tears.

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Introduction. For the past several decades, there has been a discussion as to whether elevated intraocular pressure is just ocular hypertension in a healthy eye, or a sign of glaucoma. Objective. To study the IOP values in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma at the beginning of the study and to correlated them with the disease progression and to determine optimal IOP levels. Material and methods. The final protocol included data from 812 right eyes of 637 glaucoma patients and 175 healthy subjects; the latter formed the control group. The mean age of examined patients was 71.8 ± 0.28 years; 72.00 (66.00; 77.00). Mean disease duration in glaucoma patients was 5.41 ± 0.17 years. The following parameters were assessed: visual acuity, clinical refraction, IOP level by Maklakov tonometry, central corneal thickness and IOP-lowering medication use. Results. In the age group - between 60 and 69 y.o., the IOP level in patients with advanced glaucoma was significantly higher than in patients with moderate glaucoma and healthy subjects. There was no significant difference in central corneal thickness either between glaucoma patients and healthy subjects (both male and female) or between glaucoma patients with different glaucoma changes. The IOP level was higher in patients treated with non-fixed combination of beta-blockers (BB) and prostaglandins (PG) regardless of the disease stage. According to the common standards the IOP level was found to be controlled in 69.93 % of patients with moderate glaucoma and 14.42 % of patients with advanced glaucoma. Conclusion. The results of the study could be used as clinical guidelines for determination of the optimal IOP range, choosing the optimal IOP-lowering medication(s) for starting therapy and during the follow-up in patients with moderate and advanced glaucoma stages.

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