Retinal and Choroidal Microvascular Parameters in School-age Children in a COVID-19 Infection Pandemic Peak in China

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Evaluation of Retinal and Choroidal Microvascular Parameters in School-age Children in a COVID-19 Infection Pandemic Peak in China

We designed this study to examine whether COVID-19 infection could lead to retinal and choroidal microvascular involvement in school-age children (6-18 years) in a pandemic peak in China.

This is an observational case-control study. One hundred school-age children who visited the Department of Ophthalmology at Guangzhou First People's Hospital in China from February 1, 2023 to March 31, 2023 were included in this study. Eighty children with COVID-19 infection were included in the case group. Controls without COVID-19 infection were matched to COVID-19 infection cases by a ratio of 1:4 using frequency matching on age and gender. The primary end point of this study is the retinal and choroidal microvascular changes in school-age children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondary endpoint is the

Inclusion Criteria:

Totally 100 school-age children (6-18 years) were enrolled in this study. All subjects had visited the ophthalmology clinic for routine ocular examinations. Refraction after ciliary muscle paralysis, myopia ≥ -6.0 spherical diopter, astigmatism ≤ 2.5 cylindrical diopter.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. The child or guardian did not agree to participate in the study.
2. Children could cooperate to complete the ocular examination.
3. The child had previous diseases affecting visual function and fundus, except for the diagnosis of refractive error.