The Impact of Covid-19 on Ophthalmological Emergency Department Visits at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on ophthalmological emergency department visits at King Khaled eye specialist hospital in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia.

Method: A Retrospective Record Review was conducted at KKESH in Riyadh city during a pandemic period from 2 March to 30 June of 2019 and same period in 2020. Data include all patients who visited the ophthalmology emergency department with all age groups.

Results: The number of visits to the ophthalmology emergency department decreased by 53.7 % in 2020 compared to 2019. This study conducted on 1479 patients for all age groups. Most of them were male in both periods. The proportion of older adults’ visits decreased (from 30.9% to 25.6%) (p =0.005, chi-square test). Most of the patients’ visits in 2019 were categorized under the non-determined category (73.2%). Possible emergent cases increased from 10.9% to 32.2% (p = 0.000, chi-squared test). Corneal abrasion was the commonest presentation in 2020, and Keratitis was the most frequent in 2019. On the other hand, among the unlikely emergent diagnoses, in 2019 conjunctivitis was the most common, and it was dry eye disease in 2020. Seven patients required hospital admission in 2019 while 25 patients were hospitalized in 2020.

Conclusion: The overall number of eye emergency department visits decreased when compared to the previous year, while the rate of emergent cases increased. Patients were more likely to be hesitant to seek ophthalmological care, delaying less necessary assessment.