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.

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.