Effect of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic on Central Retinal Vein Occlusion.

PURPOSE: To determine the disease prevalence rate and clinical characteristics of central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) among new patients before and after the declaration of a state of emergency due to coronavirus disease 2019 on April 7, 2020, in Japan.

METHODS

New patients and patients with newly diagnosed CRVO were categorized into "Before" and "After" groups based on the initial visit. The prevalence rate, sex ratio, and age of patients newly diagnosed with CRVO were compared between the groups. The prevalence rate of patients newly diagnosed with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEX) was also examined in the before and after groups. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the initial visit, retinal photocoagulation, and BCVA after treatment were compared among 232 eyes observed in 12 ± 2 months after treatment.

RESULTS

No significant differences in prevalence rates of CRVO among newly diagnosed patients (P = 0.232), patients with RRD (P = 0.560), or patients with PEX (P = 0.972) were observed in both groups. No significant differences in sex ratio and age were observed in both groups. Although BCVA at the initial visit (P = 0.142) and after treatment (P = 0.155) showed no significant differences, retinal photocoagulation (P < 0.01) significantly increased in the after group.

CONCLUSION

Although the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic did not affect the prevalence of CRVO among new patients compared with that of RRD and PEX, it may be associated with a greater need for retinal photocoagulation, suggesting changes in disease severity.