The Face Mask-Associated Dry Eye Symptoms in Workers Who Collecting Novel Coronavirus Nucleic Acid Sample During the Covid-19 Outbreak

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate the impact of face mask wearing on dry eye symptoms in health care professionals who collecting novel coronavirus nucleic acid sample during Omicron outbreak. Methods This cross-sectional online survey enrolled a total of 1135 health workers and social workers who were dispatched to the front line to participate in the fight against the epidemic. The ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire was also administered to quantify Mask-Associated Dry Eye (MADE) symptoms. The difference between wearing the face shield and safety-goggle was also investigated. Results In this study, the average score was 13.39 (3.39–23.39) and the prevalence of MADE symptoms including mild (23.62%), moderate (12.8%) and severe (4.09%) in Face Shield Group and mild (22.00%), moderate (11.67%) and severe (2.67%) in Safety-Goggles Group. The prevalence of MADE symptoms was higher in female (41.80%) and 50–65 age (64.65%). Conclusions A proportion of health and social workers suffer from dry eye symptoms related with wearing mask during the COVID-19 outbreak. MADE interventions should be implemented among health workers during the COVID-19 outbreak to reduce MADE symptoms effects and prevent long-term adverse outcomes.