Teleorientation in the ophthalmology service in a public hospital from May to August 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru

Abstract

Objectives: To identify presumptive diagnoses of patients treated by synchronous teleorientation in the Ophthalmology Service of Cayetano Heredia Hospital (CHH) during the COVID-19 pandemic, describing their demographic characteristics and the percentage of patients referred for a face-to-face evaluation. Methods: A retrospective observational descriptive study with secondary analysis of a database collected from May to August 2020 consisting of patients treated with teleorientation in the Ophthalmology service at CHH. Results: Three hundred and eight patients were included in the analysis. The main presumptive diagnoses were dry eye syndrome (24,68%), glaucoma (18.51%), cataract (17,85%), post-operated (5,84%) and viral/bacterial conjunctivitis (5,52%). Most patients were female (64,29%) and they came from Metropolitan Lima (91,88%). The number of older adults was higher than that of non-older adults (51,29% vs 48,70%). Finally, the patients sent to the Ophthalmology service for a face-to-face appointment were 4,55%.  Discussion: During the period of this study, the main presumptive diagnosis was dry eye syndrome. This result obtained is similar to other hospitals. The main presumptive diagnoses that required a face-to-face appointment were acute posterior vitreous detachment, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration because they needed especial examination, like measuring the intraocular pressure and fundoscopy. Older adults required assistance more frequently compared to the non-older adult group (84.41% vs 59.57%, p< 0,001).