Audit of outcomes following attendance at the City West drive-through IOP glaucoma clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness globally. During the COVID-19 pandemic, an enforced reduction in capacity resulted in the deferral of routine outpatient appointments for glaucoma patients. Aim This study analyses patient outcomes following the establishment of a drive-through intra-ocular pressure (IOP) clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic to alleviate increased pressure on the tertiary glaucoma services at Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital (RVEEH) and Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMUH) between August 2020 and June 2021. Methods A 1-lane driveway system was established in a marquee on the grounds of City West hotel. IOPs were measured in patients’ cars using a hand held iCare100 tonometer. Results were reviewed by a consultant ophthalmologist. At hospital follow-up clinic visits, IOP was measured using the Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT). Results Three hundred one patients of a total of 672 who attended the drive-through clinic have subsequently attended a designated hospital follow-up appointment. In this cohort, the mean drive-through iCare IOP of 19.4 mmHg ± 6.0 was significantly higher (