The effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on ophthalmologic practice from the egyptian population’s point of view

Abstract

Aim The aim of this study is to understand the impact of COVID 19 on patients’ view of and willingness to seek ophthalmic services in Egypt. It analyzes if there were changes in their eye care habits and under which conditions they would seek advice or undergo elective procedures. Patients and methods It is a cross sectional observational study using a questionnaire that was sent online. The questionnaire included 29 questions. All questions were closed ended questions, provided with a list of optional answers (single answer or multiple answer options). Patients were divided according to age (below 60 years and 60 and above). A follow up survey was done 2 months later and included 13 questions to compare their answers with the initial questionnaire. Results This study included the responses of 596 participants, who answered our questionnaire fully and 198 participants answered the follow-up questionnaire. The vast majority of the participants claimed they would not visit an ophthalmologist during the pandemic, would not undergo any elective surgery and relied on social media for information. On follow- up, the participants were more willing to visit an eye doctor, continue routine follow-ups, took more safety precautions and relied more on medical sources for information. Conclusion Age, contact with vulnerable groups, presence of the chronic diseases and duration of the pandemic significantly affect the patients’ willingness to seek ophthalmic services. Changes in populations’ information and doctor practice are needed in this pandemic.