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EVALUATION OF EYE CARE AND OCULAR FINDINGS IN CRITICALLY ILL COVID-19 PATIENTS
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  • Zarife Ekici Gök,
  • Abdullah Gök,
  • leman acun delen,
  • Umut Sabri Kasapoglu,
  • Esra Gürbüz,
  • Kayhan Mutlu
Zarife Ekici Gök
Malatya Training and Research Hospital

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abdullah Gök
Malatya Training and Research Hospital
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leman acun delen
Malatya Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesi
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Umut Sabri Kasapoglu
Malatya Turgut Özal University
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Esra Gürbüz
Van Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi
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Kayhan Mutlu
Aksaray University
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Abstract

Objective: The current study aimed to evaluate eye care needs along with ocular findings in patients treated in intensive care units due to Covid-19 infection. Materials and Methods: A total of 93 patients, 58 men and 35 women, who were under follow-up and treatment in intensive care due to COVID-19 infection between 01/01/2021 and 02/15/2021 were included in the study. Detailed eye examinations of the patients were performed with a portable handheld biomicroscope and direct and indirect ophthalmoscope. Cases requiring treatment for eye diseases were identified and treated. Results: The mean patient age was 68.32 ± 9.97 years; 35 patients were followed-up and treated with non-invasive mechanical ventilation and 58 patients with invasive mechanical ventilation support. Mild, moderate, and severe chemosis was observed in 19 patients (20.4%), 10 patients (10.8%), and 4 patients (4.3%), respectively. Conjunctivitis (8.6%) was observed in 8 patients. Corneal abrasion was present in 7 patients (7.5%). Keratitis secondary to exposure keratopathy was observed in one patient. Eye care and medical treatment was initiated for these patients. We noted 8 patients (8.6%) with retinal haemorrhage; however, to the best of our knowledge, these patients may show acute retinal involvement secondary to systemic diseases or have previous retinal findings other than Covid-19 infection or treatments. Conclusion: Findings of ocular involvement due to COVID-19 infection were detected in the present study. Retinal haemorrhages were detected in addition to the common findings in viral infections. Especially in patients supported with mechanical ventilation, the detection and treatment of conditions that require eye care for exposure keratopathy is very important for recovering from the disease and the quality of vision.
23 Aug 2021Submitted to International Journal of Clinical Practice
27 Aug 2021Assigned to Editor
27 Aug 2021Submission Checks Completed
04 Sep 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
16 Sep 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
19 Sep 2021Editorial Decision: Accept