Vol. 4 Issue 1 Part A

Objective: To know the change in paediatric inpatient referral pattern for ophthalmic consultation from pre COVID to COVID times and the effect of the same on visual morbidity.

Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective record review study included paediatric inpatient references for ophthalmology consultation in a teaching institute hospital from Dec 2019 to May 2020.

Result: Of the total 67 inpatient referrals requested, 45 were during preCOVID-19 times (group 1) and 22 during COVID-19 pandemic (group 2). Mean age was 4.85 ±4.47 and 4.55 ± 4.35 years in group 1 and 2 respectively. Refractive error was the cause for referral in 10 patients in group 1 and none in group 2(P=0.019). Referral for optic disc oedema assessment was seen in 6 and 15 in group 1 and 2 respectively (P=0.000). 2 and 4 patients were referred in group 1 and 2 respectively to screen for cataract (P=0.069) of which a group 1 patient was diagnosed and treated for the same. While 10 and 2 patients were referred for ophthalmic screening (P=0.193), it was 3 and 1 for strabismus (P=0.732) respectively in group 1 and 2.

Conclusion: COVID times adversely affected the inpatient refractive error screening, a cause of amblyopia in older patients. In patient referral for papilledema screening increased despite the pandemic as the condition is considered an emergency.