Diabetic retinopathy screening during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

To the Editor:

The current focus on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have invariably led to some compromises in medical care [1] and the curtailing of health services, including screening programs. This is reflected by the recent recommendation of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists on postponing routine diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening of patients with diabetes mellitus [https://rcophth.ac.uk/2020/03/covid-19-update-and-resources-for-ophthalmologists/]. Although it helps prevent visual loss [2], we understand that postponing DR screening may be necessary when facing severe shortages in staff, personal protective equipment, and escalating new infections. However, in areas with effective infection control and low community transmission, we believe it can be continued safely, especially when incorporating advances in telemedicine. Such is the case with DR screening in Hong Kong. Our department had previously played a leading role in researches [3] which led to the establishment of universal DR screening in Hong Kong since 2014. The current program involves scheduling patients with diabetes for DR screening every 1–2 years (depending on coexisting risk factors). During screening, patients’ visual acuity and digital fundal photos are uploaded to a secure, central server. The uploaded images are graded remotely at secure workstations according to a standardized protocol [4]. Patients with sight-threatening stages of DR are referred to ophthalmologists for further management.

The Department of Family Medicine and Primary Healthcare (FM&PHC) of Hong Kong West Cluster, as with other FM&PHC departments throughout Hong Kong, have continued DR screening throughout this period. As the causative agent for COVID-19 can be present in ocular secretions [5], additional measures have been adopted to reduce transmission risk, including:

1. Screening of all visitors for: body temperature for fever, history of respiratory symptoms, recent overseas travel, and possible contact or exposure to COVID-19 cases. Those screened positive had their screening postponed (if patients) and referred to designated hospitals for suspected cases.

2. Universal face-covering with surgical or N95 masks by staff and all visitors. Patients arriving without surgical masks were provided one.

3. Protective plastic shields installed on all slit-lamps, which are used during eye examinations.

4. Number of bookings reduced to avoid overcrowding within the clinics.

As bookings were intentionally reduced since February 2020, the number of attendances decreased compared with the same period in 2019 (Table 1). Comparing the first quarter of 2019 and 2020, bookings and attendance decreased by 24.0% and 27.6%, respectively, with a small rise in default rate from 15.1% to 19.1% (Fig. 1). The default rate was especially high for February 2020, when there was widespread fear of acquiring COVID-19 by many patients at the time. It has since improved slightly for March 2020. As of 12th April 2020, there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 infection among our clinical staff, nor any patients who underwent DR screening during this period.

Table 1.

Number of bookings, attendances, and defaults for January, February, and March of 2019 and 2020.

	Jan-19	Feb-19	Mar-19	Jan-20	Feb-20	Mar-20
Bookings	777	567	819	550	489	605
Attendances	663	477	696	469	368	493
Defaulted	114	90	123	81	121	112
Default rate %	14.7	15.9	15.0	14.7	24.7	18.5

Fig. 1. First quarter data for 2019 and 2020.

Total bookings, attendances, and defaults for the first quarter of 2019 (1Q 2019) and 2020 (1Q 2020).

We believe it is safe and worthwhile, when resources and infection control measures are available, to continue with DR screening, especially for patients with poor diabetic control, in view of the likely protracted course of the current COVID-19 outbreak.

Compliance with ethical standards

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.