Patients delaying care as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to an increase in severe vision loss cases, according to a study from the United Kingdom, reported on by Ophthalmology Times.
Ophthalmologists in the U.K. have seen a 65 percent to 87 percent drop in new referrals from April. The clinicians also reported an increase in missed appointments.
Because of this, researchers believe there could be between 234 and 470 additional cases of severe sight impairment stemming from the delayed cases in April. Researchers believe this could further burden the country's health system.