DR. SUSHANK BHALERAO

DR.PRATIK GOGRI, DR. SAMRUDDHI DALAL, DR. UMA THIGALE

Abstract

To study impact of COVID-19 related national lockdown on care of corneal transplantation patients at

a tertiary eye centre in India.

A Cross-sectional questionnaire-based study included 109 patients who underwent keratoplasty(full thickness or partial thickness) at our centre and who came for follow-up visit after lockdown. Factors such as type, indication, number of keratoplasties , and unusual clinical outcomes during visit after the lockdown, were studied. Uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, clarity of graft, graft-host junction apposition, intactness of sutures, intraocular pressure and disc status were compared on visits made before and after lockdown.We noted significant drop in usage of medications from 91% before lockdown to 77% during lockdown and maintained at 83% after lockdown. Edematous grafts increased from 41% before lockdown to 54% after the lockdown. Intactness of sutures decreased from 82% before lockdown to 69% after lockdown.