Associations between Subjective Happiness and Dry Eye Disease: A New Perspective from the Osaka Study

作者：Kawashima Motoko^*; Uchino Miki; Yokoi Norihiko; Uchino Yuichi; Dogru Murat; Komuro Aoi; Sonomura Yukiko; Kato Hiroaki; Kinoshita Shigeru; Mimura Masaru; Tsubota Kazuo

来源：PLos One, 2015, 10(4): e0123299.

DOI：10.1371/journal.pone.0123299

Importance
Dry eye disease has become an important health problem. A lack of concordance between self-reported symptoms and the outcome of dry eye examinations has raised questions about dry eye disease.
Objective
To explore the association between subjective happiness and objective and subjective symptoms of dry eye disease.
Design
The study adopted a cross-sectional design.
Setting
All the employees of a company in Osaka, Japan.
Participants
672 Japanese office workers using Visual Display Terminals (age range: 26-64 years).
Methods
The dry eye measurement tools included the Schirmer test, conjunctivocorneal staining, the tear film break-up time, as well as the administration of a dry eye symptoms questionnaire. Happiness was measured by the Subjective Happiness Scale.
Main Outcome Measures
Dry eye examination parameters, dry eye symptoms questionnaires, and the Subjective Happiness Scale score.
Results
Of the 672 workers, 561 (83.5%) completed the questionnaires and examinations. The mean Subjective Happiness Scale score was 4.91 (SD = 1.01). This score was inversely correlated with the dry eye symptom score (r = -0.188, p < 0.001), but was not associated with objective findings which include conjunctivocorneal staining, low Schirmer test score, or low tear film break-up time. The level of subjective happiness was the lowest in the group without objective results, but reported subjective symptoms of dry eyes (p < 0.05).
Conclusions and Relevance
There is evidence of the relationship between subjective happiness and self-reported symptoms of dry eyes. Findings of this study revealed a new perspective on dry eye disease, including the potential for innovative treatments of a specific population with dry eye disease.

• 出版日期2015-4-1