{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,28]],"date-time":"2026-01-28T07:01:14Z","timestamp":1769583674967,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,17]],"date-time":"2023-03-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1679011200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Vision Health Research Network","award":["Philanthropic funds"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["Philanthropic funds"]}]},{"name":"Vice Dean of Research and Development of the Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al","award":["Philanthropic funds"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["Philanthropic funds"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Vision"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted the practice of medicine, causing stress and uncertainty among ophthalmologists. This cross-sectional, survey-based study of Canadian Ophthalmological Society members (n = 1152) aims to report on Canadian ophthalmologists\u2019 mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Four questionnaires were administered between December 2020 and May 2021: the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), the 7-item Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the Impact of Event Scale\u2014Revised (IES-R). From all of the responses, 60\/85 answers were deemed complete and were included. The median age was 50\u201359 years and 53% were women. On PHQ-9, most respondents had no or minimal depressive symptoms (n = 38, 63%), while 12% (n = 7) had moderately severe depressive symptoms and 12% (n = 7) reported impaired daily functioning and\/or thoughts of suicide or self-harm. On the GAD-7 scale, 65% (n = 39) had no significant anxiety, while 13% (n = 8) had moderate to severe anxiety. Most respondents did not have clinically significant insomnia (n = 41, 68%). Finally, 16 respondents (27%) had an IES-R score \u226524 suggesting possible post-traumatic stress disorder. No significant differences were found based on demographics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, up to 40% of respondents experienced varying degrees of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and distress from the event. In 12%, there were concerns for impaired daily functioning and\/or suicidal thoughts.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/vision7010023","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,17]],"date-time":"2023-03-17T04:10:48Z","timestamp":1679026248000},"page":"23","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["The Mental Health State of Canadian Ophthalmologists during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey-Based Study and Review"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"7","author":[{"given":"M\u00e9lanie","family":"H\u00e9bert","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, Universit\u00e9 Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Soumaya","family":"Bouhout","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ellen E.","family":"Freeman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1G 5Z3, Canada"},{"name":"Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1Y 4E9, Canada"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Marie-Jos\u00e9e","family":"Aubin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada"},{"name":"University Ophthalmology Center, Centre Int\u00e9gr\u00e9 Universitaire de Sant\u00e9 et de Services Sociaux de l\u2019Est-de-l\u2019\u00cele-de-Montr\u00e9al\u2014H\u00f4pital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montreal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada"},{"name":"Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"682","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(20)30382-2","article-title":"Li Wenliang","volume":"395","author":"Green","year":"2020","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1207","DOI":"10.1017\/ice.2020.238","article-title":"COVID-19 and ophthalmology: An underappreciated occupational hazard","volume":"41","author":"Kuo","year":"2020","journal-title":"Infect. Control. Hosp. Epidemiol."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"678917","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2021.678917","article-title":"Prevalence of Fatigue and Its Association With Quality of Life Among Frontline Clinicians in Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology Departments During the COVID-19 Pandemic","volume":"12","author":"Jin","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.4103\/meajo.MEAJO_220_20","article-title":"Effect of 2019 Coronavirus Pandemic on Ophthalmologists Practicing in Saudi Arabia: A Psychological Health Assessment","volume":"27","author":"Almater","year":"2020","journal-title":"Middle E. Afr. J. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"994","DOI":"10.4103\/ijo.IJO_1458_20","article-title":"Psychological impact of COVID-19 on ophthalmologists-in-training and practising ophthalmologists in India","volume":"68","author":"Khanna","year":"2020","journal-title":"Indian J. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2542","DOI":"10.4103\/ijo.IJO_801_21","article-title":"A study on knowledge, attitudes, and mental health status of patients and health care workers of ophthalmology during COVID-19 post-lockdown phase at a tertiary hospital","volume":"69","author":"Parija","year":"2021","journal-title":"Indian J. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_7","first-page":"e16614","article-title":"The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Practice Patterns and Psychological Status of Ophthalmologists in Turkey","volume":"13","author":"Ozturk","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rodr\u00edguez-Fern\u00e1ndez, C.A., Varela-Agra, M., P\u00e9rez-Rold\u00e1n, L., \u00c1lvarez-Reguera, A., Mart\u00ednez-Reglero, C., and Campo-Gesto, A. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 on Eye Care in Spain during the First Phase of the Pandemic. J. Clin. Med., 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm10184087"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"377","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbi.2008.08.010","article-title":"Research electronic data capture (REDCap)\u2014A metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics support","volume":"42","author":"Harris","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Biomed. Inform."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103208","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbi.2019.103208","article-title":"The REDCap consortium: Building an international community of software platform partners","volume":"95","author":"Harris","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Biomed. Inform."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"606","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x","article-title":"The PHQ-9: Validity of a Brief Depression Severity Measure","volume":"16","author":"Kroenke","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Gen. Intern. Med."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1092","DOI":"10.1001\/archinte.166.10.1092","article-title":"A Brief Measure for Assessing Generalized Anxiety Disorder: The GAD-7","volume":"166","author":"Spitzer","year":"2006","journal-title":"Arch. Intern. Med."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"297","DOI":"10.1016\/S1389-9457(00)00065-4","article-title":"Validation of the Insomnia Severity Index as an outcome measure for insomnia research","volume":"2","author":"Bastien","year":"2001","journal-title":"Sleep Med."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.1177\/070674370304800111","article-title":"Validation of a French Version of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised","volume":"48","author":"Brunet","year":"2003","journal-title":"Can. J. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wilson, J.P., and Tang, C.S. (2007). Cross-Cultural Assessment of Psychological Trauma and PTSD, Springer US.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-0-387-70990-1"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bbi.2020.03.028","article-title":"Impact on mental health and perceptions of psychological care among medical and nursing staff in Wuhan during the 2019 novel coronavirus disease outbreak: A cross-sectional study","volume":"87","author":"Kang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Brain Behav. Immun."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1489","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brat.2003.07.010","article-title":"Psychometric properties of the Impact of Event Scale\u2014Revised","volume":"41","author":"Creamer","year":"2003","journal-title":"Behav. Res. Ther."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"484","DOI":"10.1176\/appi.ajp.158.3.484","article-title":"Suppression of Cellular Immunity in Men With a Past History of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder","volume":"158","author":"Kawamura","year":"2001","journal-title":"AJP"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"322","DOI":"10.1080\/09286586.2020.1846757","article-title":"\u201cDepression, Anxiety and Stress\u201d in a Cohort of Registered Practicing Ophthalmic Surgeons, Post Lockdown during COVID-19 Pandemic in India","volume":"28","author":"Grover","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ophthalmic Epidemiol."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1261","DOI":"10.1007\/s10792-020-01681-1","article-title":"The evolution of the changes in the clinical course: A multicenter survey-related impression of the ophthalmologists at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey","volume":"41","author":"Erdem","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.4274\/tjo.galenos.2020.52563","article-title":"Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Turkish Ophthalmologists","volume":"51","author":"Mutlu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Turk. J. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"120","article-title":"Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on public sector ophthalmic work by New Zealand\u2019s ophthalmologists","volume":"134","author":"Scott","year":"2021","journal-title":"N. Z. Med. J."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e42","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcjo.2020.10.015","article-title":"Canadian ophthalmology resident experience during the COVID-19 pandemic","volume":"56","author":"Szigiato","year":"2021","journal-title":"Can. J. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"999","DOI":"10.4103\/ijo.IJO_1067_20","article-title":"The impact of COVID-19 related lockdown on ophthalmology training programs in India\u2014Outcomes of a survey","volume":"68","author":"Mishra","year":"2020","journal-title":"Indian J. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3755","DOI":"10.2147\/OPTH.S283073","article-title":"Residents\u2019 Perceived Impact of COVID-19 on Saudi Ophthalmology Training Programs-A Survey","volume":"14","author":"Alahmadi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Clin. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"296","DOI":"10.1080\/08820538.2020.1826046","article-title":"Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Young Ophthalmologists in Cairo University Hospitals","volume":"35","year":"2020","journal-title":"Semin. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gustavsson, K., Goetz-Kundera, Z., Flaga-\u0141uczkiewicz, M., and Wichniak, A. (2023). Which Aspects of Work Safety Satisfaction Are Important to Mental Health of Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland?. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 20.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20042870"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"535","DOI":"10.3129\/i08-132","article-title":"Burnout, psychological distress, and overwork: The case of Quebec\u2019s ophthalmologists","volume":"43","author":"Viviers","year":"2008","journal-title":"Can. J. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dub, N., Konopi\u0144ska, J., Obuchowska, I., Lisowski, \u0141., Dmuchowska, D.A., and R\u0119kas, M. (2021). The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Ophthalmology Residents: A Narrative Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 18.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph182111567"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e203976","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2020.3976","article-title":"Factors Associated With Mental Health Outcomes Among Health Care Workers Exposed to Coronavirus Disease 2019","volume":"3","author":"Lai","year":"2020","journal-title":"JAMA Netw. Open"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"kqaa220","DOI":"10.1093\/occmed\/kqaa220","article-title":"Mental health of staff working in intensive care during COVID-19","volume":"71","author":"Greenberg","year":"2021","journal-title":"Occup. Med."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"288","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2021.553021","article-title":"Mental Health Status of the General Public, Frontline, and Non-frontline Healthcare Providers in the Early Stage of COVID-19","volume":"12","author":"Luo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1638","DOI":"10.1002\/hed.26291","article-title":"Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of surgeons and coping strategies","volume":"42","author":"Balasubramanian","year":"2020","journal-title":"Head Neck"}],"container-title":["Vision"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2411-5150\/7\/1\/23\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T18:57:25Z","timestamp":1760122645000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2411-5150\/7\/1\/23"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,17]]},"references-count":33,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,3]]}},"alternative-id":["vision7010023"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/vision7010023","relation":{},"ISSN":["2411-5150"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2411-5150","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,17]]}}}