Characterising retinal detachment presentations during COVID-19 national lockdown restrictions: experiences of an Irish vitreoretinal service.

Author: Edward Ahern (Ireland)

Co-authors: Zubair Idrees

Purpose

To characterise emergency rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) presentations to an Irish vitreoretinal service. To evaluate the potential impact of national COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on the presentation of RRD cases by comparison to non-lockdown time periods.

Setting/Venue

Department of Ophthalmology, Cork University Hosptial, Ireland.

Methods

Retrospective chart review of all emergency RRDs that presented during five separate 73 day periods. This included: (i) the duration of the first national lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic from 27/3/20-8/6/20, the same time frame in the years (ii) 2018 and (iii) 2019 and an equivalent 73 day time period immediately (iv) before and (v) after the lockdown when restrictions were eased. Parameters studied included the number of RRD presentations, macular status, presenting visual acuity (VA) and duration of symptoms prior to presentation.

Results

10 RRDs presented during the first COVID-19 lockdown period. 21 RRDs presented over the same time frame in 2018 and 20 RRDs presented during this time frame in 2019. Over an equivalent 73 day period pre and post lockdown implementation, 19 and 18 RRDs presented respectively. This equated to a 49% mean reduction of RRD presentations during the first COVID-19 lockdown at our centre. Characteristics of RRD presentations did not show such notable differences between the lockdown period group and the other groups. During the lockdown, 40% of RRDs were 'macula off', 40% had a presenting VA of ≤6/60 and 30% were symptomatic for ≥1 week. On average for non-lockdown groups: 43% of RRD presentations were 'macula off', 41% had a presenting VA of ≤6/60 and 26% were symptomatic for ≥1 week.

Conlusions

During the first COVID-19 lockdown there were strikingly less numbers of RRD presentations. Although the number of cases differed greatly, the characteristics of RRD presentations between groups was not found to be markedly different with respect to macular status, presenting VA and duration of symptoms. A further study in future will be required to evaluate the total influence the COVID-19 pandemic on RRD presentations.

Financial Disclosure

N/A