Abstract

EFFECT OF COVID 19 PANDEMIC ON PATIENTS WITH LOW VISION

*Widat Sohail, Hina Sharif, Nisma Sehar, Mahreen Tanveer and Sadaf Qayyum

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Abstract

Background: COVID-19 pandemic commonly known as corona virus pandemic is one of the most deadly viral pandemic that not only effect the lifestyles but also changes the dynamic of the lifestyle. This pandemic has a vast effect on the daily life activities of not only normal people but also on people who are visually disabled. Methodology: A hospital based cross sectional study was conducted to determine the effect of COVID-19 pandemic in patients with low vision. It was focused on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on daily life activities, healthcare access and transportation during the pandemic. A total of 80 Low vision patients were interviewed with the help of validated questionnaire. Results: The descriptive results shows that the male (72.5%) outnumbered the female respondents. It also show that majority of the respondents belong to the working class (52.5%) and only 22 from the total respondent were students. The results also shows that the majority of the respondent (70%) were not infected by COVID -19 virus. Majority of the respondents responded with the yes (63.3%) when asked about the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on their employment/education. It was concluded that the majority of the patients had faced no challenges while getting food supplies and prescription (73.3%). The results shows that the very few respondents had the knowledge about telehealth (17.5%) whereas majority preferred to visit hospital during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown (71.2%). The major reason for difficulty was bus/trains were restricted during lockdown (70%). It is also seen that the respondents had to work without pay (31.3%). It is also seen that the students faced the problem during online education (12.5%). The analytical analysis was carried out to find out the association between the effect of covid -19 and healthcare utilization during the pandemic. The results were calculated by using independent T-test and one way ANOVA. The result shows that COVID-19 pandemic have no significant effect on patients with low vision. Conclusion: The study shows that the major effect of the covid-19 pandemic was on the respondent’s employment and education. It also shoes that because of a lack of awareness and concern about the COVID-19 restrictions, there was no substantial link between COVID-19 lockdown and healthcare access for those with visual difficulties.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown, low vision, healthcare access, education, transportation, employment.