Purpose: To assess  the increase in the  proportion of hypermature cataract ,associated  complications  and to evaluate the reasons for delayed presentation during the era of COVID 19 pandemic .

Materials and Methods: an observational and interview based study was undertaken among -398 patients  with hypermature cataract, over a year (post COVID 19 lockdown) in the Ophthalmology department of Mysore medical college and research institute. Presence of complications like phacolytic glaucoma and subluxations was noted. Increase in the proportion of hypermature cataract was calculated  and compared with the previous year morbidity , resulting from hypermaturity , from institutional records .Reasons for  delayed presentation was evaluated with standard questionnaire.

Results: A two fold increase in the proportion of hypermature cataract was observed in our study during the study period. Among 398 cases, (152 )38.19 % were male patients and (246 ) 61.8% were female patients. Majority of patients belonged to age group of 61 to 70 years . About 69% (  270) were hailing from rural area, whereas the remaining 31% (128) patients were from the urban area .76(19%)patients had more than one reason for delayed presentation . Elective OT shut down , lack  of public  transportation , lockdown , fear of being tested as COVID positive followed by isolation , systemic illness , reluctance  by  caretakers  were some of the other reasons.

Conclusion: as a result of COVID 19 lockdown backlog, a statistical surge in the number of patients presenting with hypermature cataract and its complications was observed  . Change in outlook of patient  during the pandemic towards seeking medical attention   was the most important factor for late presentation.