Consequences of COVID-19 on Uveitis Patients from Their Own Perspective: A Questionnaire-based Study.

PURPOSE: Given their immunocompromised status, uveitis patients should be particularly careful during the COVID-19 pandemic. Treatment compliance and adherence are among the most important patient-related determinants of treatment success.To assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of uveitis patients from their own perspective. METHODS: A questionnaire was performed on uveitis patients at Cairo University Hospital in the period between June and August 2020. RESULTS: Overall, 150 responses were received. Almost 20% patients stopped their medications. A total of 61.7% patients reported no fears regarding getting infected with the novel coronavirus. In addition, 54% patients found medical services easily, 26% patients received them through telemedicine, and 34% patients reported worsening of their ocular condition. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 has caused a decrease in uveitis patient compliance with follow-ups, leading to worsening of their ocular condition. Economic and psychological effects of COVID-19 pandemic on any chronic patient should be addressed to prevent further deterioration as the pandemic continues.

Comparison between Latanoprost, Travoprost, and Tafluprost in reducing intraocular pressure fluctuations in patients with glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacies of latanoprost 0.005%, travoprost 0.004%, and tafluprost 0.0015% in reducing diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP) fluctuations in patients with newly diagnosed primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). METHODS: In this prospective randomized clinical trial, 60 patients who were newly diagnosed with POAG were divided into three equal groups. Patients were examined at presentation and at second and sixth weeks. Diurnal phasing of IOP was conducted using a calibrated Goldmann applanation tonometer. IOP measurements were recorded from 8:00 am to 9:00 am, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, and from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. RESULTS: The study groups were distributed similarly in terms of age and gender (p-values: 0.76) and the participants had a mean age of 52.98 ± 13.43 years. The IOP at the day of inclusion was not statistically significant among the three groups (p-values 0.27, 0.51, and 0.64 at 8 am, 2 pm, and 8 pm, respectively). Similar nonsignificant differences were noticed on the follow-up visits. However, the tafluprost group showed a significant reduction in IOP on the follow-up visit at the second week at 8 pm (30.5% reduction, p-value: 0.03). All three drugs showed a comparable and significant reduction in IOP and IOP fluctuations. The pattern of side effects was similar in all the groups. CONCLUSION: Latanoprost, travoprost, and tafluprost show a similar effectiveness in reducing the mean IOP and the diurnal IOP fluctuation in POAG. Importantly, the three drugs have comparable tolerability with insignificant differences regarding the pattern of their side effects.