Clinical Profile of COVID Patients During Recovery Phase at Tertiary Eye Care Centre in South India

Abstract

BACK GROUND: Though Corona virus -19 first reported in china, Indian population in urban as well as rural areas were badly effected during second wave with involvement of various ocular structures, some patients lost vision due to retinal vascular occlusions, some patients required enucleation and orbital exenteration due to fungus infections of the eye. Patients reported with different ocular disorders were documented and intervened, were included in this study. We tried to understand whether these manifestations were due to Corona Virus or due to immune compression because of systemic disorders in Corona patients treated with oral steroids and unsterile oxygen support. Aim: Purpose is to study the various clinical manifestations noted in COVID-19 patients during second wave after treatment while recovering from the acute illness. Methods: Retrospective interventional study done at tertiary eye care centre. Duration of the study is 3months from April 2021 to June 2021.500 patients were presented to our tertiary eye care centre with various clinical manifestations. All patients underwent detailed systemic and ocular examination. Patients after treatment for COVID-19 at various hospitals across the country were presented to our institute with many opportunistic infections. Apart from history BCVA, Slit Lamp examination, fundus examination, OCT, Fundus Fluorescein Angiography and B Scan done in patients where media was hazy, documentation done in all cases. Systemic examination and other investigation like RT PCR for corona virus was done in all patients. Patients presented with orbital involvement were advised CT Scan orbit. Results: Most of the patients were badly effected with many ocular complications, very few patients could maintain normal visual acuity. Many patients developed diabetes mellitus, probably they were pre diabetics manifested after use of oral steroids. Conclusion: Second wave in India increased the mortality and also effected the quality of the life in survivors. Fatality was high due to various ocular complications in all individuals irrespective of age and immune status.