A STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON EYE CARE AND ACADEMICS IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Objective: Covid-19 has severely affected both clinical and medical education work in all teachinghospitalincluding eye care hospitals. The objective is to study the effect of covid-19 in a regional eye hospital. Material and Methods: This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study. Datafrom April 2016 to March 2021 -regarding census, effect of pandemic on patients from different backgrounds, patient care services like OP, IP, Refraction and Surgeries were collected from the hospital records before and during Pandemic period and is tabulated and analysed. Results: In this study Data from April 2016-March 2021 at our centre is analysed. OPD census reduced to almost 1/3rd in the pandemic year 2020-21. In patient census reduced to one-seventhwhen compared to admissions in non-Pandemic years. Similarly, refractions were reduced to half to one-third in comparison with previous years data, refraction being one of the most common OPD procedure. On the surgical side, Cataract surgeries and minor surgeriesperformed were also reduced significantly to one-seventh & one-sixth respectively when compared with previous years performances. On the medical education front both Undergraduate and postgraduate teaching could not take place for about (50%) half of the academic year2020-21 on any platform. Conclusions: Unforeseen Pandemic Covid-19 has severely affected eye care services, including basic services at our tertiary eye care centre. Pandemics like covid-19 emphasize on improving eye care at all levels and also the need of developing infrastructure for Teleophthalmology to cater the need of patients.