关于干眼症发病率的研究数据有限,且关于美国发病率的证据各不相同。[2]International Dry Eye Workshop. The epidemiology of dry eye disease: report of the Epidemiology Subcommittee of the International Dry Eye WorkShop (2007). Ocul Surf. 2007;5:93-107.http://www.tearfilm.org/dewsreporthttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17508117?tool=bestpractice.com然而,大量数据表明该病在女性中比在男性中更普遍,[2]International Dry Eye Workshop. The epidemiology of dry eye disease: report of the Epidemiology Subcommittee of the International Dry Eye WorkShop (2007). Ocul Surf. 2007;5:93-107.http://www.tearfilm.org/dewsreporthttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17508117?tool=bestpractice.com[3]Schaumberg DA, Sullivan DA, Buring JE, et al. Prevalence of dry eye syndrome among US women. Am J Ophthalmol. 2003;136:318-326.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12888056?tool=bestpractice.com[4]Moss SE, Klein R, Klein BE. Prevalence of and risk factors for dry eye syndrome. Arch Ophthalmol. 2000;118:1264-1268.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10980773?tool=bestpractice.com并且老年人比年轻人更容易患病。[1]International Dry Eye Workshop. The definition and classification of dry eye disease: report of the Definition and Classification Subcommittee of the International Dry Eye Workshop (2007). Ocul Surf. 2007;5:75-93.http://www.tearfilm.org/dewsreporthttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17508116?tool=bestpractice.com[5]Damato BE, Allan D, Murray SB, et al. Senile atrophy of the human lacrimal gland: the contribution of chronic inflammatory disease. Br J Ophthalmol. 1984;68:674-680.http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=6331845http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6331845?tool=bestpractice.com一份报道显示,6% 的 50 岁以下美国女性和 10% 的 75 岁以下美国女性患有干眼症,年龄调整患病率为 8%,或者说 323 万 50 岁以上的美国女性患病。[3]Schaumberg DA, Sullivan DA, Buring JE, et al. Prevalence of dry eye syndrome among US women. Am J Ophthalmol. 2003;136:318-326.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12888056?tool=bestpractice.com另一份研究表明,年龄调整患病率在女性中可高达 17%,而在男性中为 11%。[4]Moss SE, Klein R, Klein BE. Prevalence of and risk factors for dry eye syndrome. Arch Ophthalmol. 2000;118:1264-1268.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10980773?tool=bestpractice.com据最近的研究数据估计,男女性别合计的干眼症患患者数在 50 岁以上的美国人中有 491 万。[2]International Dry Eye Workshop. The epidemiology of dry eye disease: report of the Epidemiology Subcommittee of the International Dry Eye WorkShop (2007). Ocul Surf. 2007;5:93-107.http://www.tearfilm.org/dewsreporthttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17508117?tool=bestpractice.com
研究表明干眼症发病率的全球不同地区也有差异。一项研究显示,17% 的 50 岁以上澳大利亚女性有中度至重度干眼症症状。[6]Chia EM, Mitchell P, Rochtchina E, et al. Prevalence and associations of dry eye syndrome in an older population: the Blue Mountains Eye Study. Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2003;31:229-232.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12786773?tool=bestpractice.com印度尼西亚的发病率较高,为 28%。[7]Lee AJ, Lee J, Saw SM, et al. Prevalence and risk factors associated with dry eye symptoms: a population based study in Indonesia. Br J Ophthalmol. 2002;86:1347-1351.http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=12446361http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12446361?tool=bestpractice.com另有证据表明,西班牙和亚洲女性症状会更加严重。[3]Schaumberg DA, Sullivan DA, Buring JE, et al. Prevalence of dry eye syndrome among US women. Am J Ophthalmol. 2003;136:318-326.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12888056?tool=bestpractice.com