COVID-19 and Ophthalmology
The Encyclopedia of COVID: Volumes 1-18, NOVA Publications , ss.2461-2473, 2024
- Yayın Türü: Kitapta Bölüm / Araştırma Kitabı
- Basım Tarihi: 2024
- Yayınevi: NOVA Publications
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.2461-2473
- Anahtar Kelimeler: COVID-19, ophthalmology, severe acute respiratory syndrome, social distancing
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to a global health crisis. After the report of the first case in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, millions of people were infected with the virus in only a few months. Apart from many systemic findings such as fever, fatigue, dry cough, the disease can also involve the eyes mainly in form of conjunctivitis. Therefore, all patients with red eyes became suspicious of COVID-19 conjunctivitis. Ophthalmologists are at increased risks for COVID-19 because of their close physical proximity to the patients during the eye examination. Thus, eye care providers should use proper ways of protection including wearing an N95 mask, gloves, and protective goggles. The outpatient clinics should be disinfected regularly and social distancing should be provided for all areas. Regular visits without any emergency should be postponed or those patients should be managed via telemedicine. Urgent or visually important cases should be triaged for COVID-19 risk before the ophthalmological examination. International guidelines should be followed for determining the effective and safe treatment protocols for the patients during the pandemic.