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Retinal Vascular Reactivity as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
07:23

Retinal Vascular Reactivity as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Published on: March 26, 2020

Effect of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic on Retinal Artery Occlusion

Tetsuya Muto1,2,3, Shigeki Machida2, Shinichiro Imaizumi1

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Imaizumi Eye Hospital, Koriyama, Japan.

Journal of Ophthalmology
|May 7, 2026
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic did not change the prevalence of retinal artery occlusion (RAO) in Japan. However, final visual acuity worsened for branch RAO (BRAO) patients after the emergency declaration.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is a serious condition affecting vision.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant societal changes, potentially impacting healthcare access and patient outcomes.
  • Understanding the pandemic's effect on RAO prevalence and characteristics is crucial for ophthalmological practice.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the prevalence and clinical features of branch RAO (BRAO) and central RAO (CRAO) in new patients before and after Japan's COVID-19 state of emergency declaration.
  • To compare demographic data, prevalence rates, and visual acuity outcomes between pre- and post-emergency periods.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study comparing RAO patients diagnosed before (April 7, 2020) and after the state of emergency declaration.
  • Analysis included prevalence, sex ratio, age, and initial/final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).
  • Rates of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEX) were also compared.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in RAO, RRD, or PEX prevalence, sex ratio, or age were observed between the 'Before' and 'After' groups.
  • Initial BCVA for RAO patients showed no significant change.
  • Final BCVA significantly worsened in the 'After' group for BRAO patients (p=0.002).

Conclusions:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic did not alter the prevalence of RAO, RRD, or PEX among new patients.
  • Despite stable prevalence, the pandemic may have influenced the pathophysiology or management of RAO, leading to poorer visual outcomes in BRAO.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms behind the observed decline in final visual acuity for BRAO patients during the pandemic.
Abstract

Keywords:
best-corrected visual acuitybranch retinal artery occlusioncentral retinal artery occlusioncoronavirus disease 2019prevalence

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