The effect of the pandemic on the intravitreal injection treatment for patients with age-related macular degeneration, regardless of lockdown periods

TL;DR

The pandemic disrupted regular eye treatments for age-related macular degeneration, leading to worse vision and eye health outcomes.

Contribution

This study quantifies the negative impact of treatment interruptions during the pandemic on AMD patients.

Findings

Half of patients interrupted treatment, leading to significant visual acuity loss.

Interruption group had higher central macular thickness changes compared to regular treatment group.

Mean interruption time was 6.71 months, with lasting negative effects on eye health.

Abstract

To evaluate the impact of the pandemic on the intravitreal injection treatment routine for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, regardless of lockdown periods.

We evaluated the data of intravitreal injections between March 2020 and June 1, 2021, which was the last day of official restrictions. We divided into two groups: a regular treatment group and a group that was interrupted for at least 3 months without excuse. The initial visual acuity at the beginning of the pandemic, the last visual acuity, the visual acuity after interruption, the central macular thickness, and the interruption time were recorded.

A total of 156 patients’ data were evaluated. There are forty-eight patients in the regular treatment group, 77 in the interruption group, and 31 in the discontinued group. The visual loss was significantly higher in the interruption group (respectively, -0.11 ± 0.19 vs. 0.03 ± 0.16, p<0.001). Central macular thickness changes were higher in the interruption group (respectively, 31.8 ± 5.7µm vs. 13.5 ± 4.6, p<0.001). The mean interruption time was 6.71 ± 2.45 months.

Half of the patients in our study interrupted their treatment during the pandemic, and this interruption had a negative impact on their visual acuity and central macular thickness. In addition to COVID-19’s own high mortality and morbidity, it also had adverse effects on patients who required regular follow-up and treatment.

Since interruptions in treatment negatively impact the prognosis of AMD, effective protocols that do not require frequent visits are necessary.