Comparison of Ocular Infections in geriatric patients in COVID pandemic period and previous year

Abstract

Purpose: Our aim was to compare the admissions to the hospital due to ocular infections in March, April and May 2020, when the age of 65 and above was officially quarantined, with the admissions made in the same months of the previous year and with other age groups. Material and methods: The files of 293 patients, were retrospectively reviewed. Keratitis, orbital cellulitis/ abscesses, endophthalmitis were defined as sight/life threatening infections. Keratitis, orbital cellulitis/ abscesses, endophthalmitis were defined as sight/life threatening infections. Results: The distribution of sight-threatening/life-threatening infections in 2019 was found to be similar for those under 65 and over. (15.3% and 33.3%, respectively, P = 0.091). During the pandemic period, the rate of sight-threatening/life-threatening infections was 12.6% for those under the age of 64, and 55.6% for those over 65. (P=0.005). The distribution of factors was not different in age groups before and after the pandemic. It was observed that the incidence of adnexal infection at the age of 65 and older decreased statistically in the same period of 2020 compared to 2019.(P

Keywords

• coronavirus
• covid19
• ocular infection
• conjunctivitis
• geriatrics