Impact of the coronavirus pandemic on pediatric eye-related emergency department services

Abstract

Literature describing the trends and utilization of pediatric eye-related emergency department (ED) visits is limited. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 311 pediatric patients visiting Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (BPEI) ED between March and May 2020 to quantify the effect of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on ophthalmology care utilization. In our study, pediatric ED visits declined by half at the onset of the pandemic in March. The number of visits reached the lowest point in early April and increased to 48% of the pre-COVID volume by the end of May. Despite changes in volume, patient demographics and clinical diagnoses were relatively consistent throughout the pandemic.

Pediatric eye emergency department activity during the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic

“…Compared to the average volume of visits performed in the same period in the previous three years, we experienced a drop of 79.4%. This finding is consistent with those reported by Shak et al, since they experienced a halving of the PEED consultations at their eye clinic during the first wave of the pandemic [ 6 ]. Conversely, our PEED has not direct access, so people have to stay in a shared waiting room before triaging and being sent to the Ophthalmic Unit.…”

Trends in the Clinical Presentation of Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachments During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…4 Despite this guidance, studies have shown that fewer patients with ophthalmic emergencies sought care during the initial months of the pandemic. 5,6 This is also reflected outside of ophthalmology by a decline in overall emergency department visits 7 and critical procedures performed. 8,9 Possible explanations include challenges posed by stay-at-home measures, socioeconomic hardship, and general anxiety brought about by the pandemic.…”

Impact of COVID-19 on pediatric ophthalmology in the epicentre of the Canadian outbreak

“…5 Possible reasons include fear of acquiring COVID-19 and stay-at-home orders. 2,6 Additionally there were fewer ocular traumas in 2020 compared to 2018 and 2019, possibly due to cancellation of sports activities. A similar trend was observed in Italy.…”

“…Although studies have documented reductions in urgent ophthalmic referrals during the first pandemic wave, few have examined its effects on pediatric ophthalmology. 2,3 We sought to characterize the impact of the first COVID-19 wave on pediatric emergency ophthalmic consultations and surgeries performed at a pediatric tertiary care hospital in Montreal, Quebec, the province with the highest number of cases during the first-wave. 1 This study was approved by the McGill University Health Centre Institutional Review (17.9%) during 2020.…”