Abstract
Purpose of review: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of vision loss worldwide. Although screening and early treatment guidelines for DR have significantly reduced the disease burden, restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic have changed real-world practice patterns in the management of DR. This review summarizes evolving guidelines and outcomes of the treatment of DR in the setting of the pandemic.
Recent findings: Intravitreal injections for DR have decreased significantly globally during the pandemic, ranging from approximately 30 to nearly 100% reduction, compared to corresponding timepoints in 2019. Most studies on functional outcomes show a decrease in visual acuity on delayed follow-up. Changing practice patterns in the management of DR has led to fewer intravitreal injections and overall reduction in visual acuity on follow-up. As COVID variants emerge, it will be necessary to continue evaluating practice guidelines.
Keywords: COVID-19; Diabetic macular edema; Diabetic retinopathy; Intravitreal injections; Practice patterns; Visual acuity.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Diabetic macular edema, Diabetic retinopathy, Intravitreal injections, Practice patterns, visual acuity, 【초록키워드】 Treatment, pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic, variant, outcome, COVID, management, early treatment, Practice, edema, Follow-up, Diabetic retinopathy, intravitreal injection, Visual, macular edema, reduction, injection, MOST, visual acuity, recent, decrease, significantly, the disease, reduced, functional, cause, changed, Changing, reduction in, timepoint, 【제목키워드】 Impact, monitoring, Diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy,