ESCRS & Eurotimes - COVID 19 Update No images? Click here A message from the ESCRS PresidentDear Colleagues These are worrying and unique times for the medical community and all those in the front lines of battling the COVID-19 threat. It is our job to protect our loved ones, our colleagues and our patients. The ESCRS is committed to giving the ophthalmology community every support in the coming days, weeks and months. To encourage and facilitate communication, we have established an ESCRS COVID 19 interactive platform. ESCRS EUROTIMES will publish updates on how the virus is affecting ophthalmologists in their daily practices and how they can keep themselves safe and help prevent the spread of the virus. We will be reporting from your colleagues, their hospitals, their governments, the ophthalmology industry and the European Commission. Our goal is to keep you updated in a concise and informed communication. We would also like very much to hear from you. Please send in your local news stories, ideas, suggestions and we will share with the wider community. This interaction is needed more than ever in a time of self-isolation in our communities. The ESCRS annual Congress is scheduled to open October 3rd 2020. We have no knowledge of what the situation will be at that time. We will keep you updated here and through all ESCRS communication channels. The good wishes of the ESCRS Trustees, Council of Management and Executive are with you and your families to stay safe and well. Prof. dr Rudy MMA Nuijts News from the groundDr Rahil Chaudhary, Medical Director Ophthalmologist at Eye7 Hospitals, New Delhi, India emphasises that the eyes must be protected. “If a droplet comes in contact with conjunctiva it can enter the body by the mucosa. We are using universal eye protection in the clinics as well in addition to masks but the same should be adopted by general population as well who are just wearing masks,” said Dr Chaudhary. While official advice and protocols vary from country to country, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended using protection for the mouth, nose and eyes when caring for patients potentially infected with COVID-19, and self-isolation for 14 days for anyone suspected of being in contact with an infected person. Dr Florian Kretz, Chief Executive Officer & Lead Surgeon at Eyeclinics Ahaus-Greven-Raesfeld-Rheine, said in Germany ophthalmologists are in emergency mode operating with minimum staff. “We will only see emergencies and patients that need treatment like intravitreal injections. Glaucoma patients that need prescriptions get their air pressure tonometry and prescription,” he said in a post on the ESCRS Young Ophthalmologists group. Arthur Cummings, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon & Medical Director, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology Beacon Hospital, Dublin, Ireland told EuroTimes that his clinic was still doing its cataract lists this week but may not be doing so next week. “We will take guidance from the authorities and the hospital. We have, however, called all elderly patients or patients that are in any way compromised and postponed their surgery indefinitely,” he said. Clinical guidelinesThe European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has issued guidance documents on infection control and personal protective equipment (PPE) needs in healthcare settings where patients suspected/confirmed of COVID-19 infection are being treated, as well as regular updates on the spread of the disease (www.ecdc.eu). Practical tips from Dr John Chang, Hong KongGOLDMAN APPLANATOR SLIT LAMP A large clear plastic sheet with a hole cut into it placed between the ocular and slit lamp. Courtesy of John SM Chang MD |