Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Vision -Related Quality of Life and Psychologic al Status in Chinese Women with 
Sjogren's  Syndrome Dry Eye: A Case -Control Study  
 
Version: 1 Date: 29 Mar 2016  
 
Reviewer: Ruth M.A. van Nispen  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This is an informative study  in which vision -related quality of life is correlated to depression and 
anxiety in women with Sjogren dry eye syndrome vs women with non -Sjogren dry eyes in a 
matched case -control design.  
 
 
In the introduction section, the authors describe the questionnai res used and which was 
correlated with what. Questionnaire information should be in the methods section. The constructs 
of interest should be described, but more importantly, why this study was conducted, why is it 
interesting to investigate these correlat ions? No hypotheses are formulated, and consequently, a 
blast of correlations is provided. Moreover, the statistical analyses presented are quite basic; by 
providing correlations it is not possible to get insight into interrelations between independent 
variables. Regression models would have been more to -the-point. Correlations can be 
informative to pick the potential variables for the regression models, because with these patient 
numbers, a maximum of 6 should be tested in regression models if the authors decide to go that 
way.  
 
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects req uire further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
 
 
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the fol lowing questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold an y stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial co mpeting interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
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on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
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