Pharmacy Daily | Occupational hazard up

COMMUNITY pharmacists report the busy nature of their work means they are not always able to follow their own professional dry eye management advice.

This is according to new findings from the Metis Healthcare Research Pharmacy Eye Health Report commissioned by CSL Seqirus, in which pharmacy survey respondents completed an Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire.

The results of the OSDI revealed two-in-three pharmacists had a score indicative of at least mild dry eye symptoms, while two in five were classified as having moderate-to-severe dry eye symptoms.

Outcomes of the quantitative online survey, based on a national sample of 200 pharmacists, show one in three affected pharmacists reporting moderate-to-severe symptoms have discussed their dry eye symptoms with an optometrist, with a small percentage consulting a GP or ophthalmologist.

Dry eye can affect anyone, but those who regularly spent time in front of a computer screen, in air-conditioning, wear contact lenses and/or a mask all day, are at a significantly higher risk, according to pharmacist proprietor, National Director of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and Vice President of the PSA NSW Branch, Caroline Diamantis.

"It is crucial that pharmacists implement strategies to protect their ocular health and take the time to look after themselves, so they can look after their patients.

"Discussing symptoms with an optometrist or ophthalmologist is an important part of this.

"Preventive screening would be a particularly beneficial measure, identifying pharmacists with dry eye disease, and addressing the problem before it proves detrimental to their work productivity, quality of care delivery, efficiency, and overall quality of life."

According to the survey findings, pharmacists who reported more severe dry eye symptoms also noted a higher frequency of daily eye drop use and were more likely to describe their symptoms as either 'very' or 'extremely' bothersome.

Symptoms of dry eye are commonly attributed to, and/or exacerbated by environmental conditions and occupational factors, such as mask-wearing.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly contributed to this issue, with nearly 60% of pharmacists in the survey reporting they currently wear a face mask for at least eight hours a day, and two-in-three pharmacists with existing symptoms of dry eye reported a worsening of symptoms due to mask-wearing.

The affected pharmacists used artificial tears to manage their dry eye symptoms, the survey found.