Download

Download Full Text (3.7 MB)

Description

Intravitreal injections (IVI) of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) medications and intravitreal steroids are standard treatment options for variety of retinal diseases. Serial IVIs are often required to achieve disease control, but IVIs are not without risk. Recognized serious complications of IVIs include but are not limited to retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, and acute endophthalmitis.1 Although post-IVI endophthalmitis is uncommon, it is a feared complication because of the potential for irreversible vision loss. Given that IVIs are one of the most commonly performed medical procedures in the United States, it is essential to ensure that steps are taken to mitigate the risk of serious complications such as endophthalmitis.

Although previous studies have suggested a role for face masking during IVI, this measure was not routinely performed by all ophthalmologists who were treating patients with IVIs. The recent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic offered a unique opportunity to better evaluate the role of face masking by both physicians and patients as hospital systems, State and Federal mandates were universally implemented to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Thus, both ophthalmologists and patients were masked during IVIs. This study leveraged these mandatory policies to explore the role that face masking may have on endophthalmitis rates after IVI. In doing so, this retrospective study evaluated the incidence of IVIs both before (unmasked) and during (masked) the COVID-19 pandemic to better understand the influence of face masking on post-IVI endophthalmitis.

Publication Date

5-2024

Disciplines

Ophthalmology

Comments

The Embark Capstone Colloquium at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester Hills, MI, May, 2024.

Physician-Patient Face Masking’s Influence on Post-Intravitreal Injection Endophthalmitis Rates

Included in

Ophthalmology Commons

Share

COinS