The Influence Of Perceived Stress On Subjective Levels Of Dry Eye: A Correlational Study.

The following is a correlational investigation of the influence of perceived stress on subjective levels of dry eye. Due to the physiology inherent to the autonomic nervous system (ANS), increases in stress levels should both theoretically and literally produce a decreased secretion of the aqueous layer of the tear film. Therefore, it was hypothesized that the individuals with a significantly higher stress level would have higher levels of dry eye due to the disruption of the tear quantity and/ or quality. For that reason, it was expected that perceived stress levels would be positively correlated with increased levels of dry eye. A survey sample of 78 individuals _over the age of 21 years of age was collected using the Perceived Stress Scale (P.S.S.) and the Ocular Surface Disease Index© (O.S.D.I). Analysis of the data showed significant support for the hypothesis (p < .05), which stated that increased levels of perceived stress would be positively correlated with higher levels of dry eye. Even though some steps were taken to reduce study confounds, limitations exist largely because a number of known correlations-with dry eye were not effectively eliminated from the data.