Patients living in climates with cooler weather, high humidity and low air quality had OSDI scores 4.4 points higher than those in cities with similar pollution and humidity levels but higher temperatures.
These observations were seen at hour five, while the two parameters didn’t show significant changes in asymptomatic or healthy individuals until hour 10.
Osmolarity, conjunctival staining, Schirmer score and MGD status all can differ, and their severity can ebb and flow throughout the course of the disease and its response to treatment, researchers say.