Retinal Detachment and Laser Retinopexy Rates During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Purpose: At the start of March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic placed an unprecedented burden on the healthcare system. Throughout much of the United States, shelter-in-place orders were imposed to reduce transmission. A consequence of this crisis, risk mitigation orders, and patient fear of exposure may have led to underutilization of emergency services. We aimed to quantify 2 emergent interventions in ophthalmology, specifically acute laser retinopexy procedures and retinal detachment repair, to determine whether these procedures decreased during the start of the pandemic.

Methods: All retinal detachment surgeries and laser retinopexy procedures were identified using Current Procedural Terminology codes. Rate data during the study period (March 1 through May 31, 2020) was compared to historical data from the year prior (March 2019 through May 2019; epoch 1) as well as the immediate 3 months prior to the study period (December 2019 through February 2020; epoch 2).

Results: Combined procedures fell by 38.5% (P = .01) and 36.0% (P = .02) when compared to epoch 1 and epoch 2, respectively. The rate of laser retinopexy procedures fell by 45.5% (P = .02) and 33.0% (P = .14) when compared to epoch 1 and epoch 2, respectively. The rate of retinal detachment repair fell by 29.4% (P = .24) and 38.0% (P = .07) when compared to epoch 1 and epoch 2, respectively.

Conclusions: Procedures fell during the study period, suggesting underutilization of emergent ophthalmology care. It is necessary for ophthalmologists to emphasize the need to seek care for concerning symptoms.

Keywords: COVID-19; coronavirus; laser retinopexy; retinal detachment.

Figure 1.

Four-week rolling average (count/week) for laser retinopexy procedures, retinal detachment repair, and combined (laser retinopexy + retinal detachment).