Journal français d'ophtalmologie
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Observational Study
An algorithm in ophthalmic emergencies to evaluate the necessity of physical consultation during COVID-19 lockdown in Paris: Experience of the first 100 patients.
This study aimed to evaluate the ability of a freely accessible internet algorithm to correctly identify the need for emergency ophthalmologic consultation for correct diagnosis and management. ⋯ This study demonstrates the reliability of an algorithm based on patients' past medical history and symptoms to classify patients and direct them to either emergency consultation or to a more appropriate deferred, scheduled appointment. This algorithm might allow reduction of walk-in visits by half and thus help control patient flow into ophthalmologic emergency departments.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have witnessed a world-wide lock-down of the population. This government action combined with the application of social distancing should in principle reduce the frequency of occurrence of ocular injuries. The goal of our work is to try to understand the circumstances of the occurrence of ocular injuries at the IOTA Teaching Hospital during the lock-down period of the COVID-19 health crisis. ⋯ Raising public awareness of the social and psychological consequences of lock-down through audiovisual means might significantly reduce the frequency of these ocular traumas.
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Observational Study
Teleconsultation in primary ophthalmic emergencies during the COVID-19 lockdown in Paris: Experience with 500 patients in March and April 2020.
This prospective observational cohort study is based on the first 500 patients who requested emergency teleconsultation during the initial days of the COVID-19 lockdown in Paris, France between 20 March and 10 April 2020. It is the first study to assess the utility of emergency teleophthalmology with a simple smartphone application or web browser and a webcam to manage emergency eye care in a population with sudden restricted access to ophthalmologists. In this study, every patient who asked for an ophthalmic emergency consultation in a single specialized center in Paris ('SOS Œil') first had to undergo a teleconsultation appointment to evaluate the indication for a physical consultation to preserve lockdown. ⋯ There was a 96% sensitivity and 95% specificity to properly evaluate the indication of a physical consultation and only 1.0% misdiagnoses that lead to delayed care. Hence, teleconsultation maintained satisfactory healthcare access to patients with severe ophthalmological disorders while preserving social distancing and sanitary precautions. Therefore, teleconsultation may be seriously considered as a way to efficiently regulate ophthalmic emergencies, especially for patients with limited access to a specialist.
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Childhood ocular trauma is a preventable cause of visual impairment and blindness worldwide. The purpose of our study was to determine demographic, etiologic, and clinical characteristics, visual outcome, and factors affecting visual prognosis in children with open globe injuries (OGI) and to analyze the predictive value of ocular trauma scoring systems for OGI in children. ⋯ OGI's in children occurs most frequently in school-age boys. Prognosis is determined by presenting visual acuity, trauma score, and wound severity and location.