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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Ann Natl Acad Med Sci 2020; 56(03): 149-153
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1713838
Review Article

Reworking Protocols in the Ophthalmology Department during the COVID-19 Crisis

Parul Chawla Gupta
1   Department of Ophthalmology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
,
Praveen Kumar-M
2   Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
,
Jagat Ram
1   Department of Ophthalmology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
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Abstract

Eye care professionals are susceptible to contract COVID-19 infection due to the presence of the virus in tears and conjunctival secretions and, also, partly due to the proximity required during ophthalmic examination. Although infrequent, ocular features include conjunctivitis (predominant), chemosis, follicles, itching, dry eye, and tearing. In this article, we have outlined salient safety recommendations at outpatient, inpatient and operation theater level for both patients as well as health care workers. Some of them being, creation of special triage areas at ophthalmology clinic for the screening of patients, things to be avoided at each level, procedures to manage appointments, examination room modifications, operation theater protocols, a suggestion for prioritizing cases, and finally airflow and hospital staff management. These suggestions, along with local hospital-specific modifications, will help us to go a long way in the battle against COVID-19.

Keywords

conjunctivitis - triage - ocular manifestations - filtering face piece - Aarogya Setu app


Publication History

Article published online:
24 June 2020

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Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.
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