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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Dry eye disease (DED) is common in the general population, and the number of patients is growing. Several risk factors including the COVID-19 pandemic and associated ubiquitous personal protective equipment (such as eye wear or face mask) wearing and distance learning and telework contribute to this process. This disease more and more affects the quality of life and labor productivity. However, the prevalence of DED in Russia is understudied while the studies vary in quantity and quality thus preventing the compilation of data and their extrapolation on the general population. This issue is further exacerbated by the lack of study coordination in a whole country and, as a result, the use of different methods and diagnostic criteria, samples of unequal age, comorbidities, region, and climatic geographical living conditions. This review paper attempts to summarize major trends and issues and to outline ways to study and solve them. Keywords: dry eye disease, DED, prevalence, epidemiology, tear, ocular surface. For citation: Onufriichuk O.N., Kuroyedov A.V. Prevalence of dry eye disease in Russia. Russian Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology. 2021;21(2):96–102. DOI: 10.32364/2311-7729-2021-21-2-96-102.

Today, glaucoma is considered to be the most common cause of irreversible blindness. The treatment of this disease is aimed at reducing intraocular tension in order to slow down the deterioration of visual functions and to maintain accept‑ able quality of life. Most ophthalmologists prefer local medicamentous therapy. Despite a significant expansion of the range of antihypertensive medicines, a significant increase in the hypotensive effect is not always achieved in each certain case, at the same time, at long-term (sometimes lifetime) treatment local and systemic adverse reactions arise and intensify. The findings of recent clinical trials presented in this overview demonstrate an adverse effect of active compounds, preservatives and ad‑ ditives of ophthalmic medicines not only on the eye surface but also on the structure of anterior and posterior eye segments. Taking into account possible side effects of each component of medicines used in glaucoma therapy, ophthalmologists will be able to reasonably approach the choice of optimal treatment regimens with the lowest risk for patients.

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