Virtual Assessment of Patients with Dry Eye Disease During the COVID-19 Pandemic: One clinician’s experience

Objectives: To report on 1) the impact of DED on social, mental, and financial well-being, and 2) the use of virtual consultations to assess DED during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design & Methods: An exploratory retrospective review of 35 charts. Telephone consultations for patients with DED conducted during the first lock-down period in Ontario in 2020 were reviewed. Results: The most commonly reported DED symptoms were ocular dryness, visual disturbances, and burning sensation. The most common dry eye management practices were artificial tears, warm compresses, and omega-3 supplements. 20.0% of charts documented worsening of DED symptoms since the onset of the pandemic and 17.1% reported the lockdown had negatively affected their ability to perform DED management practices. 42.8% of patients reported an inability to enjoy their daily activities due to DED symptoms. 52.0% reported feeling either depressed, anxious, or both with 26.9% of patients accepting a referral to a social worker for counselling support. More than a quarter of the charts recorded financial challenges associated with the cost of therapy, and more than a fifth of patients reported that financial challenges were a direct barrier to accessing therapy. Conclusions: Patients living with DED reported that their symptoms negatively affected their daily activities including mental health and financial challenges, that in turn impacted treatment practices. These challenges may have been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Telephone consultations may be an effective modality to assess DED symptom severity, the impact of symptoms on daily functioning, and the need for counselling and support.