Profile of patients receiving intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections during COVID-19-related lockdown.
Indian J Ophthalmol
; 69(3): 730-733, 2021 Mar.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1089033
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
The aim of this study was to analyze the impact on vision due to delay in presentation of patients requiring intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections, consequent to COVID-19-related travel restrictions.METHODS:
Data were collected retrospectively of patients who received anti-VEGF injections during four months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Visual acuities, indication for treatment were noted along with basic demographic characteristics.RESULTS:
Data were analyzed for 303 eyes of 263 patients. The indication for treatment was age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 60 eyes (19.8%), while 162 eyes (53.5%) had Diabetic Macular Edema, 71 eyes (23.4%) had Retinal Vein Occlusion and 10 eyes (3.3%) had other diagnosis. The visual acuity in the treatment naïve eyes (Group A, n = 168) was significantly worse (P <0.001) than those who presented for retreatment (Group B, n = 135). In Group B, there was a significant decline in vision for the entire cohort (P = 0.009) and those with AMD (P = 0.036). Those in Group B presented at a mean interval of 19.1 ± 10.6 (range, 4-64) weeks for retreatment.CONCLUSION:
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a delay in patients receiving anti-VEGF injections. The visual acuity is worse in both treatment naïve as well as those requiring retreatment. This could have long-term impact on vision of patients requiring this vision preserving treatment.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Retinal Diseases
/
Quarantine
/
Bevacizumab
/
Ranibizumab
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
/
Young adult
Language:
English
Journal:
Indian J Ophthalmol
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Ijo.IJO_2807_20
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS