Panuveitis and Optic Neuritis as a Possible Initial Presentation of the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

ABSTRACT

Objective

To describe the ocular manifestations in a case of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).     

新型冠状病毒肺炎的眼部表现

新型冠状病毒肺炎(coronavirus disease 2019,COVID-19,新冠肺炎)是由新型冠状病毒(novel coronavirus,SARS-CoV-2,新冠病毒)引起的一种具有高度传染性的疾病,目前在世界各地广泛流行,并引起全球性恐慌。研究表明,新冠病毒可以通过眼部黏膜传播,因此眼科医务人员更容易受到感染。新冠肺炎患者眼部表现主要累及结膜、角膜、巩膜、前房、瞳孔、视网膜、视神经和视皮层、眼外肌及其颅神经支配、眼眶和泪器系统等。病毒性结膜炎是新冠肺炎患者最常见的眼部表现。新冠肺炎流行期间,为了眼科医务人员免受感染,安全地开展临床工作,本文依据近年来相关文献报道总结了新冠肺炎的眼部表现,主要包括流行病学、病理生理、临床表现等方面。     

Urgent and emergent glaucoma care during the COVID-19 pandemic: An analysis at a tertiary care hospital in South India

Purpose:To describe the demographic profiles, clinical characteristics, and clinical outcomes of patients presenting with glaucoma emergencies during the COVID-19 lockdown in India.Methods:This retrospective, cross-sectional, observational case series involved review of medical records of all patients presenting to the glaucoma service during the COVID-19 lockdown period and comparison with the previous year (March 23 to June 23, 2020 Vs 2019) in a tertiary center in India.Results:We found a 78.9% reduction in overall outpatient visits (54,345 vs. 257,339; P < 0.001) and 80.9% reduction in the number of glaucoma outpatient visits (4,788 vs. 25,083; P < 0.001). Additionally, the proportion of true glaucoma emergency visits significantly increased by 62.4% in 2020 Vs 2019 (1,408/4,788 (29.4%) vs. 4,542/25,083 (18.1%); P < 0.001). Lens-induced glaucomas were the most common glaucoma surgical emergency (13.4%) in 2020. Moreover, comparison of procedures demonstrated a proportionate decrease in incisional glaucoma surgeries (70/115 (60.86%) vs. 806/939 (85.83%); P < 0.001) and an increase in the proportion of emergency cataract surgeries (129/475 (27.15%) vs. 170/2715 (6.26%); P < 0.001) and transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (45/115 (39.13%) vs. 133/939 (14.16%); P = 0.0001) during 2020 vs. 2019.Conclusion:Our study demonstrated a 62% increase in the proportion of visits that were true glaucoma emergencies. Additionally, the proportions of emergency cataract surgeries increased by 4.3 times and the proportion of transscleral cyclophotocoagulation increased by 2.8 times during the pandemic. More nonincisional procedures and less diagnostic testing were performed to minimize postoperative visits and virus transmission. Further understanding of the profile of emergencies may help in developing novel strategies to anticipate future challenges in managing glaucoma care during subsequent waves of the pandemic.     

Impact of online classes and home confinement on myopia progression in children during COVID-19 pandemic: Digital eye strain among kids (DESK) study 4

Purpose:This study was performed to compare the rate of progression of myopia before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and to assess the risk factors of hastened progression.Methods:All children with myopia of spherical equivalence ≤ −0.5 D with at least two prior documented refractions 6 months and 1 year before were included. The annual progression rate before COVID-19 and during COVID-19 was calculated. Annual myopia progression was categorized as no progression (0), slow progression (<1 D), and fast progression (≥1 D).Results:A total of 133 children (266 eyes) aged 6–18 years were included in the study. Mean annual myopia progression was found to be statistically significant during COVID-19 as compared with pre-COVID-19 (0.90 vs 0.25 D, P < 0.00001). A total of 45.9% of children showed an annual progression of ≥1 D during the pandemic as compared with 10.5% before the COVID-19 (p < 0.00001). In multivariate analysis, history of rapid progression in pre-COVID-19 era (P = 0.002) and sun exposure <1 h/day (P < 0.00001) were found to be independent risk factors for rapid myopia progression.Conclusion:Parents should consider risk of rapid myopia progression in children during current pandemic and children should be provided with socially distant outdoor activities to increase their sun exposure and diminish the rate of myopia progression.