Clinical Presentation and Outcomes of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachments During the COVID-19 Lockdown and Its Aftermath at a Tertiary Care Center in Michigan

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown on the presentation and management of acute, primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a single-center, consecutive case series with historic controls, examining patients during the COVID-19 "stay-athome" order (March 24 to June 1, 2020), the subsequent reopening phase (June 1 to July 31, 2020), and corresponding preceding intervals (March 24 to July 31, 2016 to 2019). RESULTS: Despite a significant increase in patients presenting with macula-off RRD during the COVID-19 lockdown compared to the 2016 to 2019 timeframe (P = .03), the rate of single surgery anatomical success was similar between all groups (P = .66), as was final visual acuity (P = .61). No delays between presentation and surgical intervention were observed during the lockdown (P = .49). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limitations of the COVID-19 lockdown, patients underwent surgery in a timely manner and achieved comparable visual outcomes to controls before COVID-19.