Indian journal of ophthalmology
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Indian J Ophthalmol · Mar 2021
COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown: Changing trends in Ophthalmology for in-patient and emergency services.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the changing trends in terms of patient load, presenting complaints, surgical procedures and resource utilization in a multispeciality tertiary care hospital after lockdown due to COVID-19. ⋯ COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown have reduced the number of patients visiting tertiary health care facility for ophthalmic care. As manpower and resource consumption has increased, smart management is needed to tackle the current scenario efficiently. Tele-ophthalmology must be promoted and we must understand the changing trends to plan for the future accordingly.
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Indian J Ophthalmol · Mar 2021
Observational StudyImpact of teleophthalmology during COVID-19 lockdown in a tertiary care center in South India.
The aim of this study was to describe the experience of teleconsultations addressed at our hospital in India during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown. ⋯ Teleconsultation is here to stay beyond the pandemic. WhatsApp was the preferred modality of communication for us. Teleophthalmology has given us insights to use this evolving technology to reach out to the population at large to provide eye care services. We believe that this mode of teleophthalmology has helped us in providing feasible eye care to the patients.
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Indian J Ophthalmol · Mar 2021
Case ReportsAerosol containment box for laser treatment of retinopathy of prematurity in COVID-19 pandemic.
Type 1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) requires emergency intervention and laser is an established modality of treatment. Laser treatment for ROP under topical anesthesia can be considered as an aerosol-generating procedure due to crying that puts health care workers at high risk of COVID-19 transmission. Aerosol containment box (ACB) is known to minimize aerosol transmission and there are reports of ROP laser done through incubator. Combining these two ideas, we describe a new application of ACB with suction for laser treatment of ROP thereby, reducing risk to health care team without compromising timely effective, and safe treatment for ROP.
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Indian J Ophthalmol · Feb 2021
Slit lamp examination during COVID-19: Where should the protective barrier be?
The aim of this study was to describe a poly-vinyl chloride air condition (PVC AC) curtain shield placed at the intervening space between the chin rest and the illuminating and optical arm of the slit lamp microscope (distal barrier) instead of the present position at the oculars (proximal barrier) to guard against severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2. This experimental study was done to validate and compare the protection offered by the conventional breath shields and the one described by us in a simulated environment. ⋯ The novel PVC AC curtain shield provides better barrier against the simulated contaminated stream of patient's breath directed towards the working parts of the slit lamp as compared to conventional slit lamp oculars mounted breath shields.