Why You Shouldn’t Neglect Eye Care During the Pandemic

Patients with chronic, sight-threatening eye conditions skip their appointments at the risk of vision loss

Eye care professionals warn that those facing degenerative eye conditions risk vision loss if they don’t take care of their eye health during the pandemic. Lucky Business/Shutterstock

Lockdowns and concerns about COVID-19 exposure have caused people of all ages to cancel and delay routine eye appointments, raising red flags among eye care professionals. As the pandemic continues into its second year, can ocular health be neglected any longer?

Our team of optometrists and clinical scientists at the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) hear the confusion and concerns about people’s eyes during COVID-19. Addressing the most common questions—many of which we keep up to date at COVIDeyefacts.org—can help you and your family maintain the best vision while staying safe.

Can I Set Aside My Eye Health?

A survey commissioned by Fight for Sight, a charity in the United Kingdom devoted to eye research, reveals that 1 in 5 adults in the UK is less likely to visit an eye doctor during the pandemic. This is despite finding that one-third of adults have reported deteriorating eyesight since the pandemic began.