The Impact of COVID-19 on Individuals Across the Spectrum of Visual Impairment.
Am J Ophthalmol
; 227: 53-65, 2021 07.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1157089
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
TO assess perceptions and implications of COVID-19 infection across the spectrum of individuals with visually impairment (VI) and those with normal sight.DESIGN:
Prospective cross-sectional comparative study.METHODS:
Setting:
institutional. PATIENTS 232 patients and their caregivers. Four groups were created based on better eye characteristics blind (best-corrected distance visual acuity [BCDVA] <3/60 or visual field <10 central degrees); severe VI (BCDVA ≤3/60 to <6/60; vertical cup-to-disc ratio ≥0.85 or neuroretinal rim width ≤0.1); moderate VI (BCDVA ≤6/60 to <6/18); or no or mild VI (controls BCDVA ≥6/18) based on International Classification of Diseases-10 criteria and Foster and Quigley's consensus definition of glaucoma. PROCEDURE telephone questionnaires. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
differences in perceptions and implications of COVID-19 infection across various levels of VI. Caregiver perceptions were a secondary outcome measure.RESULTS:
Surveys were completed by 232 participants, with 58 participants in each VI group. Mean age was 58.9 ± 13.2 years old. Greater degrees of VI were associated with older age (P = .008) and lower education level (P = .046). Blind participants more commonly perceived vision as a risk factor for contracting COVID-19 (P = .045), were concerned about access to health care (P <.001), obtained news through word of mouth (P <.001), and less commonly wore masks (P = .003). Controls more commonly performed frequent handwashing (P = .001), were aware of telemedicine (P = .029), and had fewer concerns about social interactions (P = .020) than groups with substantial VI. All caregivers reported more frequent patient care since the COVID-19 pandemic began.CONCLUSIONS:
The pandemic might have had a disproportionate impact on the visually impaired, and evidence-based assessments of COVID-19 health outcomes in this population are warranted.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Visual Acuity
/
Visual Fields
/
Vision, Low
/
Pandemics
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Journal:
Am J Ophthalmol
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.ajo.2021.03.016
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