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.
Background: Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) is characterised by raised intracranial pressure (ICP) with normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) composition and absence of hydrocephalus or space occupying lesions. IIH is a rare disease in children. It can lead to visual impairment but prompt diagnosis and treatment in most of the cases will prevent potentially permanent visual loss. Objective: To report a rare case of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension in a pubertal child, clinical features, and findings of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and visual field of this case. Case: An adolescent girl aged 14 years presented with headache and transient visual obscuration for two weeks. On examination, findings (fundus, visual field and MRI) were suggestive of Idiopathic intracranial hypertension. She did not have any classical predisposing risk factors. She recovered very well with acetazolamide and short term steroid therapy with no sequelae and clinical recurrence over a follow up of 12 months. Conclusion: This is a rare case of IIH in a child, which was confirmed on the MRI and visual field testing.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in reduction of patient volumes in Ophthalmology. With only emergency surgical procedures being performed with few elective surgical procedures, surgical volumes are at an all-time low. This has resulted in decreased surgical training opportunities for trainee surgeons. We developed a simple, cost-effective, 3D printed model eye – RetiSurge – for “Dry Lab” vitreoretinal surgery training. The model incorporates a retinal film that can be changed, making it suitable for multiple uses. The RetiSurge model can be used to practice visualization, instrument manipulation and endolaser photocoagulation. RetiSurge can be sterilized by ethylene oxide and is safe for use inside the operating room. RetiSurge is a simple, cost-effective, and reusable model eye for early training in Vitreoretinal surgery.
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