Abstract: Dry eye as an occupational hazard

Doesn't look too sophisticated but it would be very interesting to see a more in depth study of this type - not just for airline personnel, either.

[Is dry eye syndrome a profesional disease for aeronautical personnel?]
Oftalmologia. 2008;52(1):100-4.
[Article in Romanian]
Nicodin A, Macri M.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the eye comfort of the aeronautical personnel. This study has been conducted in ophthalmologic office of the National Institute of Aeronautical and Space Medicine, for 68 patients (group 1), men and women, active aeronautical personnel, between 35-55 years old, apparently ophthalmologically normal subjects. First the patients were subjected to a questionnaire that was meant to provide the subjective evaluation as such included: biomicroscopy, fluorescein stain, tear break up time (BUT), Schirmer tear test. There have been found subclinical, mild and moderate dry eye; tear substitutes have been prescribed. The patients were checked up each 3 months, for a period of 9 months. Results were compared with those obtained from a control group--20 people (group 2), women and men, with ages in the same range, people not involved in the aviation field who requested ophthalmological examination for optical correction. The results raise the question: can the "Dry eye syndrome" be considered a work-related disease? The answer will be "probably no" indulging oneself conditions required by International Aeronautical Authority (ex. periodically hydration and enough in volume), even if categorically environment element--conditions inside the aircraft can produce this disorder. During the flight the aeronautical personnel should use tear substitutes, because of the low humidity of the air inside the craft.