| EXPEDITED PUBLICATION, ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2021 | Volume
: 69
| Issue : 3 | Page : 730-733 |
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Profile of patients receiving intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections during COVID-19-related lockdown
Manavi D Sindal1, Kanika Chhabra2, Vaibhav Khanna3
1 Clinical Retina and Training, Vitreoretinal Services, Aravind Eye Hospital and Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Pondicherry, India
2 Vitreoretinal Services, Aravind Eye Hospital and Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Pondicherry, India
3 Cornea Services, Aravind Eye Hospital and Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Pondicherry, India
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Manavi D Sindal
Vitreoretinal Services, Aravind Eye Hospital, Thavalakuppam, Cuddalore Main Road, Pondicherry - 605 007
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_2807_20
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Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the impact on vision due to delay in presentation of patients requiring intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections, consequent to COVID-19-related travel restrictions. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively of patients who received anti-VEGF injections during four months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Visual acuities, indication for treatment were noted along with basic demographic characteristics. Results: Data were analyzed for 303 eyes of 263 patients. The indication for treatment was age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 60 eyes (19.8%), while 162 eyes (53.5%) had Diabetic Macular Edema, 71 eyes (23.4%) had Retinal Vein Occlusion and 10 eyes (3.3%) had other diagnosis. The visual acuity in the treatment naïve eyes (Group A, n = 168) was significantly worse (P <0.001) than those who presented for retreatment (Group B, n = 135). In Group B, there was a significant decline in vision for the entire cohort (P = 0.009) and those with AMD (P = 0.036). Those in Group B presented at a mean interval of 19.1 ± 10.6 (range, 4–64) weeks for retreatment. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a delay in patients receiving anti-VEGF injections. The visual acuity is worse in both treatment naïve as well as those requiring retreatment. This could have long-term impact on vision of patients requiring this vision preserving treatment.
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