Prevalence of Dry Eye Syndrome and Associated Factors Among University Students

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of dry eye syndrome (DES) and its association with risk factors among university students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between May and November 2019 with 400 students at a foundation university. Data were collected face-to-face using a personal information form, the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), and the Young Internet Addiction Test–Short Form (YIAT-SF). Non-parametric tests, Spearman correlation, and median regression analysis were applied. Results: Mild, moderate, and severe DES were observed in 19.7%, 15.6%, and 40.0% of students, respectively. The mean YIAT-SF score was 28.27 ± 8.29, indicating moderate to high levels of internet addiction. OSDI scores differed significantly by gender, class level, eye complaints, eye disease diagnosis, and use of glasses/contact lenses (p