Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Profile of Ocular Injuries: A Retrospective Cohort Study from a Tertiary Care Centre, West Bengal, India

Abstract

Introduction: Ocular trauma represents a significant yet preventable contributor to visual impairment. The enforcement of lockdown measures during the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to people remaining confined to their homes, which likely influenced both the risk factors and the pattern of ocular injuries during this period. Aim: To determine the characteristics and visual outcomes of patients with ocular trauma during the COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 periods. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, hospital-based cohort study was conducted among patients presenting to the Department of Ophthalmology, Midnapore Medical College and Hospital, Midnapore, West Bengal, India. Data were collected on patient demographics, mode and location of injury, time interval between injury and presentation, presenting Visual Acuity (VA) and the management of ocular trauma. Categorical variables were summarised using frequencies and percentages, while continuous variables were expressed as mean±standard deviation deviation. Group differences were analysed using Pearson’s Chi-square test. Results: A total of 2,010 eyes of 1,940 patients were included in this study. Males were more predominant in both the COVID-19 and the post-COVID-19 lockdown periods. The mean age of the study population was significantly lower during COVID-19 (25.48±20.3 years) compared to the post-COVID-19 period (29.97±17.3 years) (p-value=0.006). Injuries sustained at home were considerably higher than workplace injuries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients with ocular trauma during COVID-19 had delayed presentation. The incidence of closed globe injuries was notably higher during the COVID-19 period, with corneal epithelial defects being the most prevalent type, observed in 25.7% of cases (p-value=0.002). Sharp objects were the leading cause of injury during this time, accounting for 21.4% of cases. In contrast, during the post-COVID-19 period, the most common causative agents were plant leaves (20.3%), followed by animal-related injuries (15.3%). Furthermore, the proportion of patients presenting with trauma-related blindness was greater during the COVID-19 period (10.1%) compared to the post-lockdown phase (9%). Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of patients seeking care for ocular trauma significantly decreased, while injuries occurring within the home environment increased. Enhancing public awareness and implementing preventive strategies could help reduce the risk of eye-related complications and vision loss associated with domestic activities.

Keywords

• ocular trauma
• open globe injury
• pandemic
• sharp particles