Prevalence of Dry Eye Syndrome Among Elderly Outpatients at Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State

Dry eye syndrome is a multifactorial ocular surface disease that increases in prevalence with advancing age and significantly impairs quality of life. This study investigates the prevalence and risk factors of dry eye syndrome among elderly outpatients at Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. A cross-sectional hospital-based study will be conducted among 300 patients aged 60 years and above attending general and ophthalmology outpatient clinics. Dry eye diagnosis will follow the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society diagnostic criteria, incorporating the Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, Schirmer tear secretion test, tear film break-up time assessment, and ocular surface fluorescein staining. Concomitant systemic conditions including diabetes, hypertension, and Sjogren's syndrome, as well as medication use, will be recorded. Data will be analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Dry eye is underdiagnosed in Nigerian geriatric populations, often confused with age-related tearing or allergic conjunctivitis. This study generates Plateau State-specific evidence and highlights the need to integrate systematic dry eye assessment into geriatric ophthalmology care pathways. The high altitude and relatively dry climate of the Jos Plateau may compound dry eye risk, a contextual factor not previously examined in local research. Recommendations will target JUTH ophthalmology unit protocols, training of ophthalmic nurses in dry eye screening, and improved access to artificial tear preparations for low-income elderly patients. Keywords: dry eye syndrome, elderly, tear film, Jos Teaching Hospital, ocular surface disease