Collateral damage: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the care of a patient with tuberculous neuroretinitis in Lagos, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

Tuberculous neuroretinis, a relatively rare manifestation of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, is characterized by optic disc edema, peripapillary and macula swelling, with hard exudates forming a partial or complete 'macular star' While the disease may present a diagnostic challenge for Ophthalmologists, prognosis is usually good, with proper management. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented a healthcare delivery dilemma in many parts of the world, with poor accessibility to, and under-utilization of, important healthcare services by non-COVID-19-related cases. Herein is a report of a case of tuberculous neuroretinitis in Lagos, Nigeria, whose care was negatively impacted by the ongoing pandemic through the combined factors of the interruption of clinical services during the lockdown, patient avoidance of healthcare facilities and the absence of robust telehealth services. These all culminated in the delayed institution of therapy which may be responsible for the poor visual outcome of no-light-perception.