Print ISSN: 2395-1443
Online ISSN: 2395-1451
CODEN : IJCEKF
Indian Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (IJCEO) is open access, a peer-reviewed medical journal, published quarterly, online, and in print, by the Innovative Education and Scientific Research Foundation (IESRF) since 2015. To fulfil our aim of rapid dissemination of knowledge, we publish articles ‘Ahead of Print’ on acceptance. In addition, the journal allows free access (Open Access) to its content, which is likely to attract more readers and citations of articles published in IJCEO. Manuscripts must be prepared in more...Original Article
Author Details :
Volume : 8, Issue : 1, Year : 2022
Article Page : 156-162
https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijceo.2022.029
Abstract
Aims: To study the ophthalmic co-morbidities and post- COVID ophthalmic complications in mild to moderate COVID positive patients.
Materials and Methods: This was a questionnaire based prospective longitudinal study conducted between August 2020 and December 2020. In the first phase, an ophthalmologist in personal protective equipment (PPE) physically visited the patients and a pre-designed structured questionnaire regarding any ophthalmic complaints was filled and scoring was done later. In the second phase, the patients were telephonically interviewed after 3-6 months of their discharge from the hospital, regarding the development of ocular symptoms for which they needed to consult an ophthalmologist and the treatment taken was noted.
Results: 9% of the total 77 patients included in the study reported severe symptoms (scores between 17-24/24). On comparing the mean questionnaire scores (out of 24) it was seen that more severe ophthalmic complaints were seen in patients aged >= 50 years than <50>
Post- COVID complications were seen in 27 patients (35%). They included progression of pre-existing ocular disease like cataract, glaucoma, diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy, and new diagnosis of diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy and HCQ- related maculopathy.
Conclusion: Ocular co-morbidities should be looked for in every COVID patient. Those at higher risk of developing complications, should undergo a detailed ophthalmic examination after they are discharged from the isolation wards. Hospitals need to work on capacity building and/or look for alternatives, like telemedicine, to ensure timely eye care to all patients.
Keywords: COVID, Ophthalmic, Comorbidities, Conjunctivitis, Complications, questionnaire 2.
How to cite : Rizvi S, Mehrotra N, Bajpai A, Dewal T, A study of ophthalmic co-morbidities in mild to moderate cases of COVID- 19 infection. Indian J Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2022;8(1):156-162
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