The impact of covid-19 pandemic on diagnosing and treating adult patients with glaucoma in Serbia

Abstract

Aim. The aim of this study is to summarize the continuity of diagnostic procedures and surgical treatment of patients with glaucoma during the first two years of COVID 19 pandemic in a tertiary ophthalmology center of the Republic of Serbia - the Clinic for Eye Diseases of the University Clinical Center of Serbia, and to compare the results with those from the period before the pandemic was declared. Material and methods. In this retrospective study, we collected data from the protocol of performed diagnostic procedures -visual field testing, optical coherence tomography and clinical examinations, as well as from the protocol from the operating theatre. Results. The number of examined patients, the number of diagnostic procedures related to glaucoma, as well as the number of laser interventions (Nd: Yagiridotomies) and glaucoma surgeries (trabeculectomy) decreased from 20% to 66% during the period of COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions. COVID-19 pandemic has led to a drastic reduction in the number of examinations, laser interventions and surgeries in the category of people suffering from glaucoma.