COMPARISON OF POSTOPERATIVE DRY EYE SYMPTOMS AND SECONDARY UTILIZATION OF HEALTH CARE BETWEEN THREE COHORTS OF PATIENTS PRIOR TO, DURING, AND AFTER THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Published 2023 - 27th ESCRS Winter Meeting

Reference: P034 | Type: Presented Poster & Poster Submission | DOI: 10.82333/61sb-a470

Authors: Amin Hatamnejad* ¹ , Milena Cioana ² , Sohel Somani ² , Eric Tam ³ , Francesca Lee ² , Saffire Krance ⁴ , Hannah Chiu ²

¹Ophthalmology,McMaster,Hamilton,Canada, ²Ophthalmology,University of Toronto,Toronto,Canada, ³Epidemiology,McGill,Montreal,Canada, ⁴Ophthalmology,Western,London,Canada

Purpose

The primary objective of this study is to compare dry eye symptoms (DES) in patients following uncomplicated cataract surgery prior to, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Our secondary objective was to identify risk factors associated with postoperative dry eye symptoms.

Setting

High volume ophthalmology practice in Greater Toronto Area.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted in consecutive patients who underwent uncomplicated cataract surgery in November 2019, 2020, and 2021 in a surgical centre in Ontario, Canada. Patients included were 18 years or older with preoperative Dry Eye Questionnaire 5 (DEQ5) scores. Sample size calculation was done based on previous studies. Preoperative DEQ5, prophylactic treatment, adherence, and presence of DES risk factors were recorded. Number of visits due to DES concerns were calculated. Odds ratios (OR) of risk of postoperative DES based on preoperative DEQ5 or prophylaxis treatment were determined. DES risk factors were analyzed using multivariate regression.

Results

131 patients from each group were included. Preoperative DES prevalence and DEQ5 scores pre, during and post-COVID-19 decreased (mean±SD: 6.2±5.5, 3.4±4.4, 2.3±3.4, respectively, p<0.01). While the number of total follow-ups has decreased during and post-COVID-19, the percentage of follow-ups attributed to DES has increased (26%, 50%, 40%, respectively). In the during and post-COVID-19 groups there was a higher risk of postoperative DES with increasing preoperative DEQ5 score (OR=1.13, CI 1.03-1.24 and OR=1.18, CI 1.03-1.35, respectively). No other risk factors predicted DES, and there was no DES risk reduction in patients receiving preoperative treatment, regardless of DEQ5 score or group.

Conclusion

There has been an increase in postoperative DES during and after the COVID-19 pandemic despite a decrease in DES preoperatively. Preoperative DES treatment does not seem to reduce the burden of postoperative DES. More research is needed on DES treatment adherence to determine protective measures.