Background: To investigate and contrast the prevalence of dry eye symptoms in construction workers and office workers using the OSDI questionnaire. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted using the OSDI questionnaire to evaluate dry eye symptoms and associated risk factors. Sampled size calculation with a power of 80% and a 95% degree of confidence suggested the inclusion of 298 participants. Results: We studied 304 subjects (149 construction workers and 155 office workers). More than half (55%) of the participants presented dry eye symptoms (OSDI > 12). The average OSDI score was 21.30 ± 22.20 points, being lower in the group of construction workers (12.45 ± 17.50) than in-office workers (28.51 ± 22.99) (p < 0.001). Considering participants who had moderate and severe symptoms (23 to 100 points in OSDI), office workers presented dry eye symptoms 4.15 times more frequently than construction workers (OR 4.15, 95% CI 2.52, 6.85). Women presented statistical evidence of higher OSDI scores than men (32.47 ± 23.72 vs. 14.87 ± 18.48, respectively). Conclusions: construction workers have four times less risk of presenting dry eye symptoms than people working in the average office space. This highlights the pernicious effects on the ocular surface of the office environment, which poses a significant risk for the development or worsening of dry eye symptoms.

Purpose: To investigate and contrast the prevalence of dry eye symptoms in construction workers and office workers using the OSDI questionnaire. Methods:A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted using the OSDI questionnaire to evaluate dry eye symptoms and associated risk factors. Sampled size calculation with a power of 80% and a 95% degree of confidence suggested the inclusion of 298 participants. Results:We studied 304 subjects (149 construction workers and 155 office workers). More than half (55%) of the participants presented dry eye symptoms (OSDI > 12). The average OSDI score was 21.30 ± 22.20 points, being lower in the group of construction workers (12.45±17.50) than in-office workers (28.51±22.99) (p <0.001). Considering participants who had moderate and severe symptoms (23 to 100 points in OSDI), office workers presented dry eye symptoms 4.15 times more frequently than construction workers (OR 4.15, 95% CI 2.52, 6.85). Women presented statistical evidence of higher OSDI scores than men (32.47 ± 23.72 vs. 14.87 ± 18.48, respectively). Conclusions:Construction workers have four times less risk of presenting dry eye symptoms than people working in the average office space highlighting the pernicious effects of some of the conditions in the office environment to the ocular surface.

Abstract Background: To investigate and contrast the prevalence of dry eye symptoms in construction workers and office workers using the OSDI questionnaire.Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted using the OSDI questionnaire to evaluate dry eye symptoms and associated risk factors. Sampled size calculation with a power of 80% and a 95% degree of confidence suggested the inclusion of 298 participants. Results: We studied 304 subjects (149 construction workers and 155 office workers). More than half (55%) of the participants presented dry eye symptoms (OSDI > 12). The average OSDI score was 21.30 ± 22.20 points, being lower in the group of construction workers (12.45±17.50) than in-office workers (28.51±22.99) (p <0.001). Considering participants who had moderate and severe symptoms (23 to 100 points in OSDI), office workers presented dry eye symptoms 4.15 times more frequently than construction workers (OR 4.15, 95% CI 2.52, 6.85). Women presented statistical evidence of higher OSDI scores than men (32.47 ± 23.72 vs. 14.87 ± 18.48, respectively). Conclusions: construction workers have four times less risk of presenting dry eye symptoms than people working in the average office space. This highlights the pernicious effects on the ocular surface of the office environment, which poses a significant risk for the development or worsening of dry eye symptoms.

Purpose To investigate and contrast the prevalence of dry eye symptoms in construction workers and office workers using the OSDI questionnaire. Methods A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted using the OSDI questionnaire to evaluate dry eye symptoms and associated risk factors. Sampled size calculation with a power of 80% and a 95% degree of confidence suggested the inclusion of 298 participants. Results We studied 304 subjects (149 construction workers and 155 office workers). More than half (55%) of the participants presented dry eye symptoms (OSDI > 12). The average OSDI score was 21.30 ± 22.20 points, being lower in the group of construction workers (12.45±17.50) than in-office workers (28.51±22.99) (p <0.001). Considering participants who had moderate and severe symptoms (23 to 100 points in OSDI), office workers presented dry eye symptoms 4.15 times more frequent than construction workers (OR 4.15, 95% CI 2.52, 6.85). Women presented statistical evidence of higher OSDI scores than men (32.47 ± 23.72 vs. 14.87 ± 18.48, respectively). Conclusions Construction workers have four times less risk of presenting dry eye symptoms than people working in the average office space highlighting the pernicious effects of some of the conditions in the office environment to the ocular surface. .

<b>Hintergrund:</b> Mit der vorliegenden Studie sollte die Prävalenz von Symptomen des trockenen Auges bei Bauarbeitern im Vergleich zu Büroangestellten mithilfe des OSDI-Fragebogens untersucht werden. <b>Methoden:</b> Es wurde eine Querschnitts-Beobachtungsstudie durchgeführt, bei der die Symptome des trockenen Auges und die damit verbundenen Risikofaktoren anhand des OSDI-Fragebogens bewertet wurden. Die Berechnung der Stichprobengröße mit einer Power von 80 % und einem Konfidenzniveau von 95% ergab, dass 298 Teilnehmer in die Studie aufzunehmen waren. <b>Ergebnisse:</b> Wir untersuchten 304 Probanden (149 Bauarbeiter und 155 Büroangestellte). Mehr als die Hälfte (55%) der Teilnehmer zeigten Symptome des trockenen Auges (OSDI &#x3e; 12). Der durchschnittliche OSDI-Score betrug 21,30 ± 22,20 Punkte und fiel in der Gruppe der Bauarbeiter (12,45 ± 17,50) niedriger aus als bei den Büroangestellten (28,51 ± 22,99) (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0,001). Bei Betrachtung der Teilnehmer mit mittelschweren und schweren Symptomen (23 bis 100 Punkte im OSDI) hatten Büroangestellte 4,15mal häufiger Symptome des trockenen Auges als Bauarbeiter (OR: 4,15, 95%-KI: 2,52, 6,85). Frauen wiesen statistisch höhere OSDI-Scores auf als Männer (32,47 ± 23,72 vs. 14.87 ± 18,48). <b>Schlussfolgerungen:</b> Bei Bauarbeitern ist das Risiko für Symptome des trockenen Auges viermal niedriger als bei Menschen, die in einer durchschnittlichen Büroumgebung arbeiten. Dies zeigt die schädlichen Effekte der Büroumgebung auf die Augenoberfläche, die ein erhebliches Risiko für die Entwicklung oder Verschlimmerung von Symptomen des trockenen Auges darstellen.