Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eye removal procedures at an urban level 1 trauma center.

Purpose: To evaluate the changes in the rates and indications of eye removal procedures during the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: The medical records of all patients who underwent eye removal from 2007 to 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. The patient demographic data and indications for surgery were collected. Data from two groups of patients (prepandemic surgery and postpandemic surgery) were compared. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

Results: Fifty-nine patients underwent enucleation (69%), evisceration (27%), or exenteration (3%). The mean (SD) age of the patients was 55.9 (19.4) years, and most (69%) of the patients were males. Most (47%) of the study population were Black. The common indications for eye removal were trauma (41%), painful blind eye (34%), and infection/inflammation (24%). The types of trauma were assault (55%), accidental (39%), and self-inflicted (6%). The mean (SD) monthly rates of eye removal increased from 0.25 (0.50) in the prepandemic period to 0.77 (0.91) during the pandemic (p<0.001). These increases were noted in both males (p=0.003) and females (p=0.001) and were the highest among Black patients [0.42 (0.76); p<0.001]. Among the indications of eye removal, painful blind eyes [0.35 (0.75); p<0.001] and ocular trauma [0.31 (0.47); p=0.051] exhibited the greatest increases following the pandemic.

Conclusion: The rate of eye removal procedures increased during the recent pandemic. Although delayed care of chronic eye conditions may have contributed to the increased rates of painful blind eyes, the increased trauma-related eye removals may be attributed to the simultaneous spike in violent assaults in New York City.