CHANGE OF CATARACT PROFILE/CHARACTERISTICS DURING THE COVID-19 ERA: BEFORE AND AFTER THE VACCINATION PROGRAM IN TURKEY

Investigation of the cataract profile, characteristics, and patient demographics during Coronavirus disease-19 (Covid-19) pandemic before and after vaccination program in Turkey at a single tertiary center.

Cross-Sectional, retrospective, single-center

The medical records of patients who underwent cataract surgery at a tertiary hospital were reviewed retrospectively between May 2020 and October 2021. These patients were divided into 2 groups according to the start date of vaccination in Turkey (Pre-vaccine group - May 2020-January 2021/ Post-vaccine group - February 2021-October 2021). Patients were further categorized into two groups regarding having end stage cataract (mature, hypermature, or morgagnian) or standard cataract.

This study included 1102 patients who underwent cataract surgery. While 232 (21.05%) patients had surgery in the pre-vaccine period, the remaining 870 (78.94%) patients underwent surgery in the post-vaccine period. The mean age of the pre-vaccine group and post-vaccine group was 63.3±12.0 and 64.9±12.0 years respectively (p=0.059). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of gender (p=0.543). The ratio of end-stage cataracts to all cataracts did not show any difference between the pre-vaccine (12.5%, 29/232) and post-vaccine period (14.4%, 125/870; p=0.466).

This study showed that 2.75 times more patients had the opportunity to have cataract surgery after the vaccination program at a single tertiary center. Despite the increased cataract surgery turnover, the ratio of end-stage cataracts to all cataracts did not show a decrease even 9 months after the start of the vaccination program suggesting that more time might be needed to reach the pre-Covid cataract patient characteristics and profile.