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Pooled prevalence of symptomatic dry eye and its associated factors among adults in Africa: (2016-2025) systematic review and meta-analysis study.
This systematic review and meta-analysis combined studies from 2016-2025 and found that symptomatic dry eye symptoms (such as burning, irritation, dryness…
Signal score64Research triage score
CertaintyModerateVerify in full text
PMID42286761Source identifier
Research triage, not medical advice
Do not use this summary, score, or benefit-cost estimate to diagnose, treat, prescribe, or change care without reviewing the full study and consulting qualified professionals.
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Plain-English signal
This systematic review and meta-analysis combined studies from 2016-2025 and found that symptomatic dry eye symptoms (such as burning, irritation, dryness, tearing, and visual disturbance) are common among adults in Africa, with a pooled prevalence reported in the abstract of 61.29% (95% CI: 51.41-71.17). Prevalence varied by country and setting (e.g., higher in South Africa and in community-based studies, lower in Ethiopia). The analysis also reported factors associated with higher odds of symptomatic dry eye: using screens more than 5 hours a day, having diabetes for 11+ years, poor glycemic control, allergic conjunctivitis, and use of ophthalmic drops. The study used standard systematic-review methods and registered on PROSPERO (CRD420251043328).
Why it matters
- Provides a pooled estimate of symptomatic dry eye prevalence among African adults (61.29% reported in abstract) which may inform burden-of-disease estimates, screening needs, and resource allocation for eye care services across African settings.
- Identifies potentially modifiable associated factors (prolonged visual display use, poor glycemic control, allergic conjunctivitis, long diabetes duration, ophthalmic drop use) that could be targeted by public health prevention or clinical management programs.
- Highlights substantial between-country and setting variation (e.g., South Africa high, Ethiopia lower) important for prioritizing local surveillance and targeted interventions rather than assuming uniform burden across the continent.
Primary outcomes
- Pooled prevalence of symptomatic dry eye among African adults (reported in abstract).
- Associations between symptomatic dry eye and risk factors (VDU >5 h, diabetes duration ≥11 years, poor glycemic control, allergic conjunctivitis, ophthalmic drop use).
Effect summary
Abstract-reported pooled prevalence: 61.29% (95% CI: 51.41-71.17). Subgroup extremes reported: South Africa 92% (95% CI: 87.66-96.34); Ethiopia 43.64% (95% CI: 36.94-50.34). Significant pooled odds ratios for associated factors reported in abstract: visual display >5 h (OR 3.95), diabetes duration ≥11 years (OR 2.85), poor glycemic control (OR 2.57), allergic conjunctivitis (OR 2.79), ophthalmic drop use (OR 3.05).
Benefit-cost lens
| Quick take | This meta-analysis signals a high pooled prevalence and associations that could influence prioritization and program design, but benefit-cost claims require local baseline absolute numbers, intervention effect sizes, and cost/feasibility inputs. |
|---|---|
| BCR anchor | 2 |
| Time horizon | 3 |
| Discount rate | 0.03 |
| Assumptions | Assessment based only on PubMed metadata and abstract; full text may change pooled estimates, subgroup findings, inclusion criteria, and bias assessments. |
Benefit-cost fields are assumptions-based unless explicitly source-derived. Treat them as prompts for deeper economic review.
Risk of bias
| Tool | rapid-abstract-screen |
|---|---|
| Verdict | Some concerns |
| Notes | Judgement based only on title and abstract: systematic review methods are reported (PRISMA, JBI appraisal, funnel plot/Egger, random-effects model), but full-text details on search strategy, study-level risk of bias, heterogeneity sources, outcome definitions, and potential selective reporting cannot be verified from the abstract. |
Harms, equity, conflicts & implementation
| Implementation | Full-text review; local prevalence and population denominators; clarification of case definitions and diagnostic criteria; cost and capacity assessment for screening and management; stakeholder engagement for prioritized interventions. |
|---|---|
| Equity impact | Unclear from abstract. Reported between-country and setting differences suggest potential equity implications; full text needed to determine whether marginalized groups were underrepresented or disproportionately affected. |
| Harms | Harms or adverse consequences of screening/treatment interventions are not reported in the abstract; full-text verification required to identify tradeoffs. |
| Registration | PROSPERO CRD420251043328 |
| Replication | Unknown from automated PubMed triage; replication would require accessing full data/extraction tables in the article. |
Source links — verify original
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