Screening of Influencing Factors of Dry Eye Disease and the Exploration of New Diagnosis and Treatment Model Based on Community Health Management Combined with Tertiary Hospitals.

Abstract

Objective: To screen influencing factors of dry eye and evaluate a new diagnosis and treatment model combining tertiary hospitals with community health management.

Methods: A total of 500 community residents from two Chinese hospitals between January - September, 2023 were included. Dry eye was diagnosed based on the presence of typical symptoms, an OSDI score > 13, a tear film break-up time (BUT) < 10 seconds, and/or a Schirmer I test (SIT) result < 10 mm/5 min, following the 2020 Chinese Dry Eye Expert Consensus. Diagnosed patients were randomized into a management group (community health management) and a control group (self-management). Both received standardized hospital treatment for six months. Disease cognition, symptom improvement, psychological state, eye comfort, satisfaction, and quality of life were compared.

Results: Dry eye prevalence was 26.40% (132/500). Univariate analysis identified age, sex, drug use, connective tissue disease, laser corneal surgery, vitamin A deficiency, hepatitis C, mite infection, anxiety, depression, sleep disorder, and diabetes as influencing factors (p < 0.05). After six months, the management group showed better disease cognition, improved BUT and SIT, and lower OSDI scores than the control group (p < 0.05). SAS and SDS scores were lower, and VAS scores were reduced, while GQLI and management satisfaction were higher (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Factors such as drug use, laser surgery, vitamin A deficiency, hepatitis C, mite infection, and psychological and metabolic conditions influence dry eye. A combined hospital-community management model improves symptoms, psychological well-being, disease awareness, quality of life, and treatment satisfaction.