Vision
Perceived Stress and Ocular Surface Symptoms: A Survey-Based Study of Medical Students
By Khaled Ali Elubous, Nahla Alma’lawani, Khalid Abuelsamen and 6 others.
Abstract
Background
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of symptomatic dry eye among medical students and identify associated demographic and psychological factors.
Methods
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among medical students enrolled at Jordanian universities during September 2025. Participants completed a structured electronic questionnaire including demographic and lifestyle characteristics, the validated Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), and the validated Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with severe symptomatic dry eye.
Results
A total of 311 medical students participated. The mean OSDI score was 34.84 ± 18.18, with 54.7% classified as having severe symptomatic dry eye. In multivariable logistic regression, perceived stress was associated with severe symptomatic dry eye after adjustment for measured covariates (adjusted OR = 1.056, 95% CI: 1.015–1.098, p = 0.007). Higher perceived stress was also associated with greater symptom severity (p = 0.001) and higher OSDI scores after adjustment (p = 0.010).