DR. TANIA PARMAR

BARINDER KAUR BAINS, DR. AMAN DEEP SINGH

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the barriers in acceptance of cataract surgery during COVID-19(Coronavirus disease-2019) era.

Material and methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in months of August and September 2020. The patients who refused cataract surgery were administered semi structured interview noting reasons for refusal to get tested for COVID-19.

Results: A total of 100 patients (57 females and 43males) refused cataract surgery, 12 patients had visual acuity (VA) less than 6/60 and 50 had VA between 6/18-6/60. Barriers related to COVID-19 were: refusal to get COVID-19 tested prior to surgery(85) , procedure is not an emergency, they want to defer it(51), their family members may get COVID-19 infection from them, if they get surgery at this time(15) , increase in financial burden (65) and lack of transport (25).

Conclusions:COVID-19 has negatively impacted on cataract surgery uptake.