Evaluation of effect of covıd-19 pandemic on anatomical and functional changes and vision-related quality of life in patients with glaucoma.
Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 2023;
43:103705. [PMID:
37451656 DOI:
10.1016/j.pdpdt.2023.103705]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
To evaluate anatomical and functional changes and vision-related quality of life in patients whose glaucoma follow-up was disrupted by the COVID-19 restrictions.
METHODS
This retrospective observational study included 100 patients who were followed up at the glaucoma unit. For the patients whose follow-up evaluations were postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions, visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, visual field parameters [mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD), and visual field index (VFI)], and the National Institute of Ophthalmology Visual Function Scale-25 (NEI-VFQ-25) score were evaluated based on the measurements performed at the last visit before COVID-19 (V1) and at the first visit after the removal of COVID-19 restrictions (V2).
RESULTS
The mean age of the patients was 61.1 ± 13.4 years, the mean follow-up time was 11.4 ± 4.2 months, and the mean interval between the last two visits was 7.2 ± 2.7 months. In the evaluation of the last two visits, VA was lower and IOP was higher at V2, and there was progression in the MD, PSD, and VFI values (p<0.05, for all). RNFL thickness progression was seen in 13-23% of the patients. According to the NEI-VFQ-25 evaluation, except for peripheral vision and near vision, all the remaining subscale scores and the total score were lower at V2 (p<0.05, for all).
CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the anatomical and functional changes and vision-related quality of life together in patients with glaucoma.
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