Epidemiology of ocular surface symptoms and their association with stress levels among the Gazan population in crowded shelters during the 2023 Israel war

Aljarousha, Mohammed and M. Alghamdi, Waleed and Che Azemin, Mohd Zulfaezal and Marliana, Mahmud (2025) Epidemiology of ocular surface symptoms and their association with stress levels among the Gazan population in crowded shelters during the 2023 Israel war. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, 48 (4). pp. 1-8. ISSN 1367-0484 E-ISSN 1476-5411

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Abstract

Purpose To investigate the status of ocular surface symptoms and their relationship to stress levels among the Gazan population during the 2023 Israel-Hamas War. Methods This cross-sectional study involved stratified sampling of participants from the four Gaza districts in Palestine. Individuals aged 18 years or older completed the Arab Ocular Surface Disease Index (Arab-OSDI) questionnaire and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) to assess stress levels. Results A total of 426 participants (238 males and 188 females) completed the Arabic versions of the OSDI and PSS-10 questionnaires. The mean Arab-OSDI score was 21, with 40.6 % of participants scoring ≥23, the threshold for moderate to severe DED symptoms. Participants with moderate or high perceived stress levels had significantly higher mean Arab-OSDI scores than individuals with low stress levels (p = 0.029). Logistic regression analysis identified age over 50 years, and the high PSS as significant factors associated with Arab-OSDI scores ≥13 (p < 0.05). Conclusion The findings indicate a high prevalence of dry eye symptoms among the Gazan population during the Israel–Hamas war in 2023, with moderate to high perceived stress levels significantly associated with these symptoms

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Dry eye disease, PSS-10, OSDI, Gazan population, Israel–Hamas war
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General) R Medicine > RE Ophthalmology
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences
Depositing User:	Dr. Mohd Zulfaezal Che Azemin
Date Deposited:	25 Jun 2025 09:46
Last Modified:	25 Jun 2025 09:46
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/121675

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