City Research Online

Abstract

Purpose: To assess outcomes and recovery strategy of patients undergoing intravitreal injections for exudative age-related macular degeneration who experienced COVID-19 related interruption in treatment during complete lockdown.

Methods: This was a retrospective, observational case study. We used a mixed effect model with random intercepts to evaluate best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) accounting for measured central macular thickness (CMT) and individual variability of each eye. Furthermore, we analysed measures of the pigmented epithelium detachment as well as presence of subretinal fluid and intraretinal cysts.

Results: We included 39 patients and we found a significant reduction in the BCVA between the pre- and post-lockdown controlling for CMT. There was no significant difference in pigmented epithelium detachment and in presence of subretinal fluid and intraretinal cysts.

Conclusion: We detected a significant loss in visual function. The magnitude of the average loss was, however, limited suggesting good efficacy of the recovery strategy.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2021 Allegrini et al. This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms (https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php).
Publisher Keywords:	IVT interruption, covid-19, intravitreal injection, bevacizumab
Subjects:	R Medicine > RE Ophthalmology
Departments:	School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Optometry & Visual Sciences
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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