نبذة مختصرة : Objectives: To evaluate changes in the clinical findings of keratoplasty patients who could not be examined face-to-face and were followed up by telephone during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Materials and Methods: Patients with penetrating keratoplasty who presented to the cornea department between March 2020 and February 2021 were grouped according co whether they showed clinical deterioration (Group 1: no deterioration, Group 2: deterioration). The patients' last visit prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and their first visit after the pandemic-related lockdown ended were evaluated. The demographic data, follow-up period, and ophthalmological examination findings of all patients were recorded and the data were compared between the groups. Results: Thirty-five eyes of 35 patients were included in the study. Signs of deterioration were detected in 8 (22.8%) of the patients (Group 1), while no deterioration was detected in 27 (77.2%) of the patients (Group 2). In the last follow-up visit prior co the COVID-19 pandemic, mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 1.26 +/- 0.43 LogMAR (range: 0.52-1.80) in Group 1 and 1.41 +/- 1.02 LogMAR (range: 0-3.1) in Group 2 (p=0.692). Mean BCVA in the first control during the pandemic was 2.07 +/- 0.86 LogMAR (range: 1.3-3.1) in Group 1 and 1.49 +/- 1.08 LogMAR (range: 0-3.1) in Group 2 (p- 0.08). At the first visit during the COVID-19 pandemic, the mean intraocular pressure of Group 1 was 16.38 +/- 8.58 mmi Ig (range: 0-31), and Group 2 was 17.11 +/- 3.7 mmI Ig (range: 11-26) (p=0.984). Conclusion: The continuation of treatment initiated prior to the pandemic was probably the most important reason why deterioration was not observed in keratoplasty patients. In situations such as pandemics where face-to-face visits with patients may be disrupted, it may be passible to follow the patients safely with telemedicine visits until the difficult circumstances resolve.
Processing Request
No Comments.