The impact of COVID-19: variations in volumes and characteristics of retina surgeries

BACKGROUND: In concordance with medical recommendations in response to COVID-19, Emory Healthcare limited surgical procedures starting March 16, 2020. We investigated the impact of these recommendations on the number, types, and urgency of surgical retina cases. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of all surgical patients at the Retina division of the Emory Eye Center from February 17–April 12, 2020 and during the same time period in 2019 and 2018. The demographics of patients and the number, types and urgency of retina surgeries were collected. Descriptive statistics for each variable were reported. Univariate analysis was carried out using the chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test for categorical covariates. RESULTS: From February 17–March 15 to March 16–April 12, 2020, total surgeries decreased from 87 to 34. Emergent cases, occurring within 7 days of surgical order placement, decreased from 23 to 18 (p = 0.0056), and urgent cases, occurring within 21 days of surgical order placement, decreased from 26 to 4 (p = 0.0380). From March 16–April 12, 2019 there were 62 surgeries: 21 emergent (34%), 14 urgent (23%). From March 16–April 12, 2018 there were 68 surgeries: 15 emergent (22%), 21 urgent (30%). After March 16, 2020, average patient age decreased from 39.4 to 25.7 years. There were no statistically significant differences in racial make-up or insurance coverage for those having surgery prior to versus after March 16, 2020. CONCLUSION: National recommendations for ophthalmologic surgeries during COVID-19 disproportionately affected older patients and patients with urgent cases at our tertiary care academic medical center. These results may inform the ophthalmologic field of the potential effects of pandemics such as COVID-19 on the surgical retina care of patients.