The difference in clinical characteristics between patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment during partial and complete lock-down periods related to COVID-19 pandemics 2-year long follow-up results.

BACKGROUND

We aimed to compare results of clinical presentation of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), and the surgical approach during partial or complete lock-down periods (LP), and non-COVID periods in a tertiary ophthalmology clinic.

METHODS

The medical data of the patients who were diagnosed with RRD in a tertiary hospital. The demographic data of patients, the duration from the beginning of the visual symptoms to hospital admission, the status of lens, the anatomical quadrant of retinal break, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at presentation, the type of intraocular tamponade, and final BCVA were recorded. The exclusion criteria were RD other than rhegmatogenous (tractional or exudative), and incomplete follow-up until 2nd-year.

RESULTS

The study included 20 eyes of 20 RRD cases in partial LP, 20 eyes of 20 RRD cases in complete LP, and 23 eyes of 23 RRD cases in non-COVID period. The ratio of perfluoropropane (CF) gas to silicone oil which was applied as intraocular tamponade at the end of the surgery for RRD was 15/8 in non-COVID period, 11/9 in partial LP, and 11/9 in complete LP (p = 0.730). In final visit at postoperative 2nd-year, the BCVA was logMAR 0.613 ± 0.425 in non-COVID period, logMAR 0.668 ± 0.348 in partial LP, and logMAR 0.730 ± 0.368 in complete LP (p = 0.612). In both inferior and superior quadrant RD, there was significant difference between baseline and final BCVA after surgery. (Baseline and final BCVA in inferior RD: logMAR 1.71 ± 0.40, and logMAR 0.950 ± 0.30 (p = 0.011) and, in superior RD: logMAR 1.35 ± 0.59, and logMAR 0.505 ± 0.321 (p = 0.0001), respectively.) CONCLUSIONS: As a result, it seems that both partial and complete LP did not modify the typology of RRD surgeries.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Retrospectively registered. The study followed the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki, and it was approved by the local ethical committee (2023-088).