Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Progression to Glaucoma Surgery in Patients Followed Up in a Retina Unit
Retina-Vitreus, cilt.32, sa.4, ss.237-243, 2023 (Scopus, TRDizin)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 32 Sayı: 4
- Basım Tarihi: 2023
- Doi Numarası: 10.37845/ret.vit.2023.32.40
- Dergi Adı: Retina-Vitreus
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus, Academic Search Premier, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.237-243
- Anahtar Kelimeler: COVID-19, Glaucoma, Neovascular glaucoma, Retina, Silicone oil-induced glaucoma
- Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Purpose: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 on progression to glaucoma surgery in patients followed up at the retina unit of the Ophthalmology Outpatient Clinic of Health Sciences University Antalya Training and Research Hospital. Material and Methods: The patients who were followed up at the retina unit of our hospital. The patients were divided into four periods: Group 1, March 11, 2019-September 11, 2019; Group 2, September 12, 2019-March 11, 2020; Group 3, March 12, 2020-September 11, 2020; and Group 4, September 12, 2020-March 11, 2021. Group 1 and Group 2 were pre-pandemic groups, Group 3 and Group 4 were post-pandemic groups. This study is retrospective. Results: The ratio of the number of patients who underwent glaucoma surgery to the number of those presenting to the retina unit was found to be statistically significantly increased in Group 4 compared to the remaining three groups (p<0.0001 for all). The ratio of the number of patients who were followed up in the retina unit and underwent surgery due to neovascular or silicone oil-induced glaucoma to the total number of patients who presented to the retina unit was statistically significantly increased in Group 4 compared to Groups 1 and 2 (p=0.001 for all). Conclusion: This study is the first to examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on progression to glaucoma surgery in patients followed up at the retina unit. We think that the number of patients that required surgery for neovascular or silicone oil-induced glaucoma in Group 4 increased because the patients in Group 3 time period could not go to their regular check-ups due to COVID-19. We consider that the fear of contracting the virus, implemented lockdowns, need for social isolation, and inability to apply timely treatments due to the pandemic conditions are effective in this situation.