Impact of COVID-19 on mental health in eye care professionals, staff and students

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in eye care professionals, staff, and optometry students. Methods: A 23-question survey was sent through social media and email to ophthalmologists, optometrists, staff, and optometry students. Demographics, stress level before and during COVID-19, positive and negative factors which impact mental health and screening questions for depression and anxiety were collected. Results: A total of 2,134 individuals from 50 USA states and Canada responded to the survey, including 887 optometrists, 252 ophthalmologists, 794 optometry students, and 185 eye care staff (16 had missing job information). There were 1319 participants (61.8%) stated that COVID 19 had a negative impact on their mental health, vs 25.4% stating no impact and 12.6% stating a positive impact. Participants reported significantly higher stress during COVID-19 compared to before, 3.49 ( ± 1.12) vs 2.86 ( ± 1.02) on a scale of 1-5 (P < 0.0001). The top 3 self-reported factors that have negatively impacted mental health were: worries about family /friends being infected with COVID-19, worry about being infected with COVID-19 myself, and social isolation. The top 3 activities that helped maintain mental health were: outdoor activities, family time, and exercise. Conclusion/Relevance: Overall, 38.4% of the respondent reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, or both and 61.8% reported worsening mental health during COVID-19. Female, young people, and minority (Asians) were the risk factors for depression, anxiety, and psychological stress. This study warrants further monitoring and specific interventions for eye care practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent mental health disorders.