Acute acquired concomitant esotropia: May COVID-19 lockdowns have changed its presentation?

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated unprecedented public health measures, including lockdowns.
• These measures may have indirectly influenced various health conditions, including ocular conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy on the clinical characteristics of Acute Acquired Concomitant Esotropia (AACE).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of AACE patients diagnosed between January 2018 and December 2021 at Polyclinic Hospital of Bari.
• Patients were categorized into pre-lockdown (before March 2020) and post-lockdown groups.
• Statistical tests (Wilcoxon, Student's t-test, Fisher exact test) were used to compare demographic and clinical features, including deviation size, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and subtype (Bielschowsky vs. Non-Bielschowsky).

Main Results:

• Nineteen patients were included; 12 were diagnosed post-lockdown.
• A statistically significant difference in AACE subtypes was observed between the pre-lockdown and post-lockdown groups (p=0.01977).
• Significant differences were also found in mean age, BCVA, and spherical equivalent between the groups (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 lockdown appears to have altered the typical profile of AACE patients.
• Post-lockdown patients were more likely to be myopic and elderly.
• An increase in the Bielschowsky subtype of AACE was noted following the lockdown period.