Chennai, Feb 20: There has been a five-fold increase in advanced cataract cases and severe dry eyes during the

covid-19 pandemic.

Talking to reporters with statistics, Dr Agarwal Group of Eye

Hospitals Chairman Amar Agarwal said the pandemic has

significantly worsened the severity of most eye conditions

in people, with an increased number of patients suffering

from advanced cataracts, eye infections, severe dry eyes

(digital eye strain), and even corneal graft rejection.

The worst impact was seen in cases of advanced cataracts

and dry eyes, all resulting from delayed treatment or loss of

work-life balance due to working from home.

Giving statistics comparing the pre-and post-pandemic

situation, Prof Amar Agarwal said “in the last quarter

of 2019, less than 10 percent of all cataract patients

coming to our hospital were suffering from advanced

cataract.’

‘In the last quarter of 2020, this figure jumped to

50 per cent, a five-fold increase. The cases of dry

eyes due to digital eye strain similarly jumped from

10 per cent to 30-50 per cent over the same period’,

he said.

‘We noticed worsening of existing cases of glaucoma

in many patients as they hesitated to come for regular

follow-ups’, he said.

There were also complications in previous corneal

transplant patients such as rejection of cornea and

high eye pressure.

People with diabetes ignored their periodic eye check

ups during the pandemic period, leading to severe

complications in their retina, he said.

Hospital Executive Director Dr Ashvin Agarwal cited

some examples of eye patients suffering from increased

morbidity due to delay in seeking treatment.

An old person who delayed his cataract surgery after

a few months suffered high eye pressure and partial

loss of vision. An elderly woman’s poor overall health

condition led to bilateral corneal infection and eventual

loss of vision in both eyes, he said.

A patient with vision only in one eye had a cornea

transplant done earlier. He developed an eye infection

and could not see an eye doctor due to the lockdown.

He is now blind in both eyes and awaiting a repeat

cornea transplant, he said.

‘We also saw the case of a young woman who had earlier

undergone corneal transplant develop graft rejection and

graft failure due to lack of timely eye treatment’, he said. (UNI)