{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,18]],"date-time":"2026-05-18T11:23:11Z","timestamp":1779103391230,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,14]],"date-time":"2026-05-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1778716800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JPM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between cumulative occupational exposure and ocular surface alterations in Colombian tomato farm workers, using data collected through a cross-sectional survey. In addition, the study sought to explore how occupational exposure duration may support risk stratification and targeted preventive strategies in this vulnerable population. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted involving 72 tomato farm workers in Colombia. Participants were grouped according to duration of agricultural work experience (&lt;15 years vs. \u226515 years). Clinical assessments included slit lamp examination, tear film break-up time (BUT), Schirmer test, and fluorescein staining. Subjective symptoms were evaluated using the McMonnies Dry Eye Questionnaire. Ocular surface alterations, including conjunctival changes and Meibomian gland dysfunction, were documented and statistically analyzed between groups. Results: Workers with \u226515 years of experience reported significantly higher dry eye symptom scores (McMonnies mean = 8.19 \u00b1 2.54) than those with &lt;15 years (mean = 6.59 \u00b1 2.61; p = 0.006). Schirmer test scores were lower in the experienced group (16.30 \u00b1 11.48 mm vs. 22.71 \u00b1 11.20 mm; p = 0.018), indicating reduced tear production. Bulbar conjunctival alterations and Meibomian gland obstruction were significantly more frequent in the experienced group (p = 0.002 and p = 0.013, respectively). No significant differences were found in BUT or eyelid findings. Conclusions: Long-term agricultural work was associated with increased dry eye-related symptoms and clinical signs of ocular surface compromise among Colombian tomato farm workers. From a personalized medicine perspective, occupational exposure duration may represent a useful risk-stratification factor to identify workers who could benefit from targeted screening, preventive counseling, protective interventions, and individualized follow-up. These findings support the implementation of tailored occupational eye health strategies to reduce cumulative ocular surface damage in vulnerable rural populations.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jpm16050264","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,14]],"date-time":"2026-05-14T16:27:56Z","timestamp":1778776076000},"page":"264","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Dry Eye in Colombian Tomato Farmers: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study of Occupational Exposure Duration"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Mar\u00eda Catalina","family":"Mor\u00f3n Barreto","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Group Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones Epidemiol\u00f3gicas en el Sistema Visual\u2014GIESVI, Department of Optometry, Optometry School, Saint Thomas University, Bucaramanga 680001, Colombia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0450-7717","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jos\u00e9-Mar\u00eda","family":"S\u00e1nchez-Gonz\u00e1lez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physics of Condensed Matter, Optics Area, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Seville, 41012 Seville, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0915-3348","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Diana Cristina","family":"Palencia Florez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Group Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones Epidemiol\u00f3gicas en el Sistema Visual\u2014GIESVI, Department of Optometry, Optometry School, Saint Thomas University, Bucaramanga 680001, Colombia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101033","DOI":"10.5662\/wjm.v15.i4.101033","article-title":"Diagnostic Methods for Managing Dry Eyes","volume":"15","author":"Musa","year":"2025","journal-title":"World J. 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