Why You Shouldn’t Neglect Eye Care During the Pandemic

Patients with chronic, sight-threatening eye conditions skip their appointments at the risk of vision loss

Eye care professionals warn that those facing degenerative eye conditions risk vision loss if they don’t take care of their eye health during the pandemic. (Lucky Business/Shutterstock)

Lockdowns and concerns about COVID-19 exposure have caused people of all ages to cancel and delay routine eye appointments, raising red flags among eye care professionals. As the pandemic continues into its second year, can ocular health be neglected any longer?

Our team of optometrists and clinical scientists at the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) hear the confusion and concerns about people’s eyes during COVID-19. Addressing the most common questions—many of which we keep up to date at COVIDeyefacts.org—can help you and your family maintain the best vision while staying safe.

Can I Set Aside My Eye Health?

A survey commissioned by Fight for Sight, a charity in the United Kingdom devoted to eye research, reveals that 1 in 5 adults in the UK is less likely to visit an eye doctor during the pandemic. This is despite finding that one-third of adults have reported deteriorating eyesight since the pandemic began.

Thousands of patients who previously sought regular treatment for chronic, sight-threatening eye conditions are missing vital appointments that help to preserve their vision.

Ophthalmologists report that patients with retinal conditions such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy are skipping hospital appointments for sight-preserving injections, which often leads to devastating consequences such as disease progression and gives rise to significant vision loss.

What Eye Conditions Cannot Wait?

Putting aside COVID-19 concerns, there are seven reasons to urgently call your eye doctor, no matter the age of the patient:

• Eye injury
• Eye pain
• If you notice new floaters or flashes of light
• Red eye
• A sudden change in vision
• Blank or wavy spots
• Refills for prescription drops

Delaying care in these situations may result in poor outcomes, including vision loss. Some clinics offer telephone consultations to triage care and discuss options. When in doubt, call.

Infographic summarizing seven reasons to urgently contact your eye doctor. (Alison Ng/CORE, University of Waterloo), Author provided

Eye care professionals have put safety measures in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Here’s what to expect at an eye exam during the pandemic. (Alison Ng/CORE, University of Waterloo), Author provided

For example, glaucoma affects the optic nerve, causing gradual irreversible vision loss. It’s the leading cause of irreversible blindness globally and more than 80 percent of those affected experience silent vision loss. Often, patients with glaucoma fail to notice any symptoms until 40 percent of nerve damage has occurred. Early detection and timely treatment limit further damage.

An eye doctor examining the eyes of a patient. The eye doctor is wearing personal protective equipment including a face mask, goggles, and gloves. There is a plastic breath shield between the eye doctor and the patient, and the patient is also wearing a face mask. (CORE, University of Waterloo), Author provided

For example, inflammation of the iris also presents as a red eye. Without timely treatment involving prescription eye drops, this condition progresses to worsening pain, light sensitivity, and blurred vision, and can lead to cataracts, glaucoma, or permanent vision loss. The only way to confirm the cause of an eye problem and get appropriate treatment is to see an eye care professional.

What About Children?

With estimates that half of the world’s population will be myopic (nearsighted) by 2050 and the time that kids spend on screens skyrocketing, the impact on their vision might be around long after this pandemic is over.

A CORE study found almost one-third of Canadian school children aged 11 to 13 were myopic, and 35 percent of myopic children didn’t have glasses or contact lenses to help them see better. Some children simply don’t know they have an eye problem because they assume that everyone sees the same. The combination of rising rates among children, and fewer people seeing eye care professionals means that children may be one of the larger underserved demographics in terms of eye care.

Is It Safe to Get an Eye Exam?

Every effort is being made to ensure that staff, doctors, and patients are kept safe. Clinic personnel are expected to stay home and isolate if they have symptoms of COVID-19 in the same way that patients are.

In a time of continued uncertainty, one thing remains clear: Your vision is important and you can take steps to keep it that way, even during a pandemic.

Alison Ng is a clinical scientist at the University of Waterloo’s Centre for Ocular Research & Education, in Canada; Mike Yang is a clinical scientist at Centre for Ocular Research & Education. This article was first published on The Conversation.