PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DRY EYE SYNDROME IN HOME OFFICE WORKERS IN THE POST-PANDEMIC PERIOD

Abstract

Introduction: Dry eye syndrome has been described as a multifactorial condition that, in the context of post-pandemic remote work, has shown growth associated with increased screen time, ergonomic changes, and domestic environmental factors. Objective: To synthesize evidence on the prevalence and factors associated with dry eye syndrome in home office workers in the post-pandemic period, aiming to integrate epidemiological, behavioral, and environmental findings to support preventive and clinical management strategies. Methodology: The review followed the PRISMA checklist recommendations and searched the PubMed, SciELO, and Web of Science databases, considering exclusively articles published in the last ten years. The descriptors used were "dry eye syndrome," "prevalence," "remote work," "occupational environment," and "post-pandemic." After removing duplicates, screening was performed by titles and abstracts, and selection was made by full reading, with standardized data extraction and narrative synthesis. Population-based or clinical studies in adults, research assessing prevalence or associated factors in remote workers, articles with diagnoses based on validated questionnaires or objective tests, publications in peer-reviewed journals, and full-text available works were included. Studies in pediatric populations, exclusively experimental research in animal models, isolated case reports, articles without data on exposure to digital devices, and publications without full text access were excluded. Results: The evidence indicated a high prevalence of symptoms compatible with dry eye among remote workers, with variability according to diagnostic tools and geographic context. Conclusion: It was concluded that, in the post-pandemic period, the home office regime was correlated with an increased prevalence of dry eye syndrome and that ergonomic interventions, education on visual hygiene, and institutional policies for regular breaks were identified as promising measures to reduce symptoms and preserve occupational well-being.