Epidemiology of eye-related emergencies in children under 18 years of age at a General Hospital in Spain from 2019 to 2021.

PURPOSE

To know which ophthalmological pathologies are the most prevalent attending the emergency department. To assess what changes have occurred because of the COVID pandemic.

METHOD

Review of emergency reports in children under 18 years of age attended in our Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021. Comparison of pre-pandemic, pandemic and "back-to-normal" data when comparing the periods 2019-2021 with each other.

RESULTS

There is a 57% reduction in the eye-related emergency visits in 2020. This reduction affects the three more prevalent diagnostic groups: conjunctivitis and red eye (69% fall), trauma and foreign body (45% decrease) and palpebral pathology (35% less). In 2021 there is a partial recovery in the three groups, but not reaching the 2019 data. On the other side, eye and periocular pain show an increase in consultation in both 2020 (16,7% more) and 2021 (100% increase).

CONCLUSION

There are differences in the distribution of eye-related conditions that consulted at the Emergency Department at our hospital during years 2019-2021. This suggests a more rational use of the Health System, less banal pathology attending and an impact of mobility restrictions, handwashing and face masks wearing on ophthalmological pathology.