The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Department Visits Resulting in Ophthalmology Consultations

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the characteristics of eye-related emergency department (ED) visits resulting in ophthalmology consultation during the COVID-19 pandemic and compare them against an equivalent period from the previous year. MethodsIn this study, we reviewed the charts of patients who were admitted to ED with ocular complaints between March 11th, 2020 (the date of the first COVID-positive case in our country) and March 11th, 2021 (Study period 1; SP1) and those who were admitted to ED within the equivalent period of the previous year (Study period 2; SP2). The frequency of eye-related cases, the urgency status of complaints, diagnosis, treatment applied, and hospitalization status of the patients were compared. ResultsThe proportion of ophthalmology consultations among all medical departments decreased from 4.52% to 4.04% (p<0.001). There was a 40.5% reduction in eye-related ED admissions during the pandemic, and the top three ocular diagnoses were foreign bodies of the ocular surface (24.3%), corneal abrasion (18.7%), and blow-out fractures (6.2%) during SP1. The proportion of urgent eye-related emergency visits increased during the pandemic year (80.7% of total cases) compared to the year prior to the pandemic (66.0% of total cases) (p<0.001). Although the number of ophthalmology consultations per day decreased during lockdown periods, this decrease was not statistically significant. ConclusionDuring the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of eye-related ED visits decreased in comparison to the year which preceded the pandemic. However, the proportion of urgent visits increased during the pandemic. Understanding the circumstances under which patients seek eye care in EDs is critical to rendering the optimal level of service of available resources.

Dermatology and Venereology Consultation Pattern from Inpatient and Emergency Department in Tertiary Hospital Setting Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic

“…For instance, Engin et al reported an insignificant difference of the total number of emergency unit patients consulted to ophthalmology department before and during COVID-19 times. 29 An observational study by Shomorony et al also unveiled a relatively stable number of inpatient consultations to otolaryngology department following the onset of COVID-19 outbreak, but a remarkable increase in the amount of intubation requests for critical COVID-19 patients was observed. 30 This is understandable since SARS-CoV-2 infections primarily affect respiratory system and maintaining the patency of airway is an essential and life-saving procedure amidst the situation.…”

Are Age and Trauma Mechanism Associated with Volume Change in the Fractures of the Bony Orbit?

“…Whang et al found that the number of blowout fractures decreased, especially in patients aged under 20 years, but that blowout fracture surgery, on the other hand, increased in patients older than 60 years [ 59 ]. Another study stated that the proportion of blowout fractures in ophthalmologic consultations increased during the pandemic [ 60 ].…”