Socioeconomic Disparities in Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment: Presentation and Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Purpose: No published papers examine COVID-19's impact on retinal detachment with long-term data or the relationship between social determinants and RRD treatment during the pandemic. We evaluate the effects of COVID-19 lockdown and socioeconomic factors on RRD presentation and outcomes. Methods: Medical records of 106 patients underwent RRD repair from 2018 to 2021 were reviewed for race, ethnicity, age, sex, underserved status, time from symptom onset to presentation, and time from presentation to surgery. Visual acuity and recurrence rates were assessed at one-year post-surgery. Measured outcomes included macula status at presentation and postoperative visual acuity. Results: We found no significant difference in visual outcomes based on race, ethnicity, age, sex, or underserved status. However, time from symptom onset to presentation was shorter during the lockdown (3.00 days vs. 7.27 days, p=0.001). Patients during the lockdown were more likely to present with macula-off RD (OR=6.07, 95% CI: 1.38-43.56, p=0.032) and experience higher intraocular pressures in the acute postoperative setting (22.41 mmHg ± 9.79, p=0.013), and increased time from presentation to surgery was associated with higher odds of macula-off status (OR=1.71 per additional day, 95% CI: 1.37-2.27, p<0.0001). Conclusion: Socioeconomic and demographic factors did not significantly impact visual outcomes. Shorter presentation times during lockdown suggest effective prioritization of emergent care, but higher initial severity warrants further investigation into underlying causes. Future studies should explore these dynamics and the role of artificial intelligence in managing RDs during healthcare disruptions.