Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40330002›Full record

ArticleClinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.)2025

Investigating Mask-Associated Dry Eye and Contributing Factors in Healthcare Providers.

Kathryn S Park, Bryanna J Lee, Michael J Ang, Medi Eslani, Sarah Shacterman, Jonghwa Jun, Maria L Gomez, Don O Kikkawa, Natalie A Afshari

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Kathryn S ParkShiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.
Bryanna J LeeShiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.
Michael J AngShiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.
Medi EslaniShiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.
Sarah ShactermanShiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.
Jonghwa JunShiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.
Maria L GomezShiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.
Don O KikkawaShiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.
Natalie A AfshariShiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate mask-associated dry eye among healthcare providers and assess the impact of glasses, contact lenses, and mask types on ocular surface parameters. Patients and Methods: This prospective study included 50 healthcare providers who wore face masks throughout the day and 10 control subjects who did not. Ocular surface assessments were conducted in the morning and after a full workday. Assessments included the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), tear osmolarity, tear breakup time (TBUT), ocular staining score, Schirmer I test, and LipiView™ interferometer parameters: lipid layer thickness (LLT), Meibomian gland dropout (MGd), incomplete/complete blinks, and partial blinking rate (PBR). Results: Fifty healthcare providers (mean age 39.83 ± 12.3 years) and 10 controls (mean age 29.40 ± 14.43 years) were included. Mask use averaged 7.15 ± 1.15 hours daily. Mask use was associated with a significant increase in OSDI scores compared to controls (mean change 4.50 ± 10.17 vs -1.00 ± 1.94; P = 0.041) and a larger decrease in TBUT in the right eye (mean change -1.65 ± 3.37 vs 0.30 ± 1.57; P = 0.008) and left eye (mean change -1.40 ± 2.91 vs -1.20 ± 1.93; P = 0.046). No significant changes were observed in tear osmolarity, LLT, MGd, or Schirmer I results. Glasses were correlated with a smaller decrease in TBUT in the right eye (r Conclusion: Mask use is associated with increased OSDI scores and decreased TBUT, potentially worsening dry eye disease. Glasses may offer some protection, but further research is needed to fully address mask-associated dry eye.

Indexed as

dry eyetear break-up timetear film

Identifiers

PMID40330002
PMCPMC12050417

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.