Access to Pediatric Eye Care During a Pandemic: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Public Health
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Visual impairment in children necessitates timely and consistent medical care to prevent permanent vision loss.
• The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems globally, impacting routine and specialized medical services.
• Access to essential pediatric eye care services was potentially compromised due to pandemic-related restrictions and healthcare system strain.

Approach:

• A systematic literature search was performed across multiple databases to identify studies investigating the impact of pandemics on pediatric eye care access.
• The search yielded 257 articles, with nine selected for final qualitative review based on predefined inclusion criteria.
• A meta-analysis was conducted on the included studies to quantify the changes in pediatric eye care utilization during the pandemic.

Key Points:

• All nine reviewed studies reported a significant reduction in children seeking eye care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Virtual triage systems were widely implemented, prioritizing in-person consultations for emergency cases only.
• Pediatric visits for eye care decreased by an average of 67.32%, a statistically significant decline (P < .01).

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic substantially decreased access to pediatric eye care, necessitating adaptive strategies for service delivery.
• The observed decrease in pediatric eye care access was not unique to this demographic, as the proportion of pediatric visits among all ocular complaints remained stable.
• Future pandemic preparedness plans must address the continuity of specialized pediatric healthcare, including ophthalmology, to mitigate long-term visual health consequences.