New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.
Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2024 Jan-Feb;52(1):10-21. doi: 10.1111/ceo.14313. Epub 2023 Nov 12.
To examine ocular symptoms and signs of veterans with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) diagnosis, ME/CFS symptoms, and controls.
This was a prospective, cross-sectional study of 124 South Florida veterans in active duty during the Gulf War era. Participants were recruited at an ophthalmology clinic at the Miami Veterans Affairs Hospital and evaluated for a diagnosis of ME/CFS, or symptoms of ME/CFS (intermediate fatigue, IF) using the Canadian Consensus criteria. Ocular symptoms were assessed via standardised questionnaires and signs via comprehensive slit lamp examination. Inflammatory blood markers were analysed and compared across groups.
Mean age was 55.1 ± 4.7 years, 88.7% identified as male, 58.1% as White, and 39.5% as Hispanic. Ocular symptoms were more severe in the ME/CFS (n = 32) and IF (n = 48) groups compared to controls (n = 44) across dry eye (DE; Ocular Surface Disease Index [OSDI]: 48.9 ± 22.3 vs. 38.8 ± 23.3 vs. 19.1 ± 17.8, p < 0.001; 5 item Dry Eye Questionnaire [DEQ-5]: 10.8 ± 3.9 vs. 10.0 ± 4.6 vs. 6.6 ± 4.2, p < 0.001) and pain-specific questionnaires (Numerical Rating Scale 1-10 [NRS] right now: 2.4 ± 2.8 vs. 2.4 ± 2.9 vs 0.9 ± 1.5; p = 0.007; Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory modified for the Eye [NPSI-E]: 23.0 ± 18.6 vs. 19.8 ± 19.1 vs. 6.5 ± 9.0, p < 0.001). Ocular surface parameters and blood markers of inflammation were generally similar across groups.
Individuals with ME/CFS report increased ocular pain but similar DE signs, suggesting that mechanisms beyond the ocular surface contribute to symptoms.
检查患有肌痛性脑脊髓炎/慢性疲劳综合征（ME/CFS）诊断、ME/CFS 症状的退伍军人的眼部症状和体征以及对照组。
这是一项前瞻性、横断面研究，纳入了 124 名在海湾战争期间现役的南佛罗里达州退伍军人。参与者在迈阿密退伍军人事务医院的眼科诊所招募，并根据加拿大共识标准评估 ME/CFS 诊断或 ME/CFS 症状（中度疲劳，IF）。通过标准化问卷评估眼部症状，通过综合裂隙灯检查评估体征。分析并比较各组的炎症血液标志物。
平均年龄为 55.1±4.7 岁，88.7%为男性，58.1%为白人，39.5%为西班牙裔。与对照组（n=44）相比，ME/CFS（n=32）和 IF（n=48）组的眼部症状更严重，包括干眼症（DE；眼表面疾病指数[OSDI]：48.9±22.3 对 38.8±23.3 对 19.1±17.8，p<0.001；5 项干眼问卷[DEQ-5]：10.8±3.9 对 10.0±4.6 对 6.6±4.2，p<0.001）和疼痛特异性问卷（数字评分量表 1-10[NRS]现在：2.4±2.8 对 2.4±2.9 对 0.9±1.5；p=0.007；改良眼神经病性疼痛症状量表[NPSI-E]：23.0±18.6 对 19.8±19.1 对 6.5±9.0，p<0.001）。各组的眼表面参数和炎症血液标志物通常相似。
患有 ME/CFS 的个体报告眼部疼痛增加，但 DE 体征相似，表明除眼表面以外的机制导致了症状。
