After hours retina appointments often require urgent intervention

In this retrospective review, 987 charts from patients who needed emergency and after clinic hours at academic non-hospital associated retina-only private practice institutions were included.

The majority of all visits over the 2-year study period were from new patients (53%), with flashes and floaters being the most common presenting symptom (42.55%). Nearly 40% of patients had symptom duration for ≤1 day, and 17.22% had symptom duration for ≤2 days.

Posterior vitreous detachment (15.20%), macula on retinal detachment (9.93%), macula off retinal detachment (9.73%), retinal tear (9.52%) and vitreous hemorrhage (8.81%), were the most common diagnosis. Eighteen percent of patients had a procedure performed in-office during the initial visit, most of which were laser retinopexy.

Overall, 23% of all visits resulted in surgery within 96 hours, and 36% of encounters led to urgent intervention within 24 hours when combined with procedures.

The authors concluded that there is a need for retina on-call services to supplement hospital-based eye institutions.

Reference
Blackorby BL, et al. Analysis of emergent non hospital based retina consultation requests in an academic non-hospital associated retina practice. Presented at: 2020 ASRS Virtual Meeting.