@article{ref1,
title="Epidemiology of eye-related emergencies in children under 18 years of age at a general hospital in Spain from 2019 to 2021",
journal="Archivos de la Sociedad Española de Oftalmologia (Internet. English ed.)",
year="2023",
author="Álvarez-Bulnes, O. and Casals-Sánchez, A. and Roig-Albertos, M.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="PURPOSE: To know which ophthalmological pathologies are the most prevalent attending the emergency department. To assess what changes have occurred because of the COVID pandemic. <br><br>METHOD: Review of emergency reports in children under 18 years of age attended in our Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021. Comparison of pre-pandemic, pandemic and &quot;back-to-normal&quot; data when comparing the periods 2019 - 2020 - 2021 with each other. <br><br>RESULTS: There is a 57% reduction in the eye-related emergency visits in 2020. This reduction affects the three more prevalent diagnostic groups: conjunctivitis and red eye (69% fall), trauma and foreign body (45% decrease) and palpebral pathology (35% less). In 2021 there is a partial recovery in the three groups, but not reaching the 2019 data. On the other side, eye and periocular pain show an increase in consultation in both 2020 (16,7% more) and 2021 (100% increase). <br><br>CONCLUSION: There are differences in the distribution of eye-related conditions that consulted at the Emergency Department at our hospital during years 2019-2020-2021. This suggests a more rational use of the Health System, less banal pathology attending and an impact of mobility restrictions, handwashing and face masks wearing on ophthalmological pathology.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2173-5794",
doi="10.1016/j.oftale.2023.08.006",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oftale.2023.08.006"
}