Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Hospital Visits Among Patients with Dry Eye

Abstract

Objective: To survey the concerns about the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on a hospital visit on the population's dry-eye symptoms, and the need for dry eye symptom treatment among Thailand's community-based population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials & Methods: The online survey was distributed via various social media platforms about the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on hospital visits among people (dry eye and non-dry eye), the questionnaire available from June to July 2020 was open to everyone. In total, 535 people responded.

Results: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the concerns of the surveyed population were consistent with the need for healthcare services. The majority of respondents were concerned about infecting the COVID-19 virus from the hospital and spreading it to family members, especially patients with dry eye symptoms is concerned more than healthy people (p<0.05). As a result, most respondents denied going to the hospital or spent as little time as possible there because they were concerned about infecting the COVID-19 virus from the hospital.

Conclusion: Telemedicine development for patients with dry eye symptoms would provide a convenient and easily accessible platform for patients to receive recommendations on how to properly handle and manage dry eye symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this necessitates constant service maintenance and development. As a result, healthcare services should be developed and modified to meet the needs of the patients.