Dry eye markers show sex-specific links to presbyopia severity

Specific dry eye signs are linked to presbyopia severity in a sex-dependent way, with short tear break-up time associated with higher near add power in women, and corneal staining associated with higher near add power in men, according to a study.

Dry eye parameters were worse in women. They had higher corneal staining and shorter tear break-up time than men. In both sexes, near add power increased with age (β = 0.80, P < 0.01 for both) and was also associated with astigmatic error (women: β = 0.16; men: β = 0.19; both P < 0.01). However, sex-specific differences emerged for dry eye measures. In women, near add power was correlated with BUT (β = −0.10, P < 0.01), whereas in men it was correlated with corneal staining (β = 0.20, P < 0.01).

Further analysis showed that women with shorter tear break-up time and men with corneal staining were more likely to require higher near add power levels.

Reference
Ayaki M, Hanyuda A, Negishi K. Sex differences in the severity of presbyopia with dry eye: A cross-sectional retrospective study. PLoS One. 2025;20(11):e0334117. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0334117. PMID: 41237181; PMCID: PMC12617865.