Purpose: To assess the impact of the measures taken during the lockdown period from March 17 to May 11, 2020 on the management of patients with exudative age related macular degeneration treated by intravitreal anti-VEGF injections at the University Hospital of Tours.
Methods: In this retrospective study, patients were included after analysis of the computerized medical records of patients with age related macular degeneration. Those who were treated for exudative age related macular degeneration who received at least 1 intravitreal injection in the 12 months prior and at least one consultation in the 6 months prior to the lockdown period, were included. The initial and final mean visual acuity were compared with a 5 letter non-inferiority margin. A subgroup analysis was performed according to outcomes. The visual acuities immediately after this period were also recorded.
Results: In all, 595 eyes of 493 patients were included. The mean initial visual acuity was 59.6 letters, vs. 58.5 for the final visual acuity, i.e. a difference of -1.13 letters with a lower limit of the confidence interval of less than 5. The visual acuity on release from lockdown was comparable to the other 2 measurements. Initial visual acuity and the number of missed treatments were the main factors associated with functional loss.
Conclusion: Patients' visual acuity during the lockdown period was able to be maintained despite the restrictive measures and limitation of care access in France. The most common cause of substantial visual decline was missed intravitreal injections.
Keywords: Age-related macular degeneration; COVID; Confinement; Dégénérescence maculaire liée à l’âge; Injection intravitréenne; Intravitreal injection; Lockdown.
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