Dr.Vidushi Sharma

Dr. PANDEY SURESH KUMAR, Dr.Vidushi Sharma

Abstract

We stopped routine cataract-IOL surgery on March 18, 2020 and restarted on May 18, 2020 after taking all precautions. The standardized prescreening procedure involves consent as per AIOS guidelines, checking for fever and respiratory symptoms, history of recent overseas travel and possible contact to COVID-19 cases. Patients screened as positive had their elective surgery postponed and referred appropriately. Most of the cases were mature cataracts and topical phaco surgery was performed by an experienced surgeon using an N95 mask and taking all precautions as per AIOS guidelines. There were no reported cases of COVID-19 infection among our staff, nor among any patients. We performed cataract surgery on alternate days and not more than 4 cases were done in one OT. We believe it is safe, and necessary for surgeons, to carefully restart the elective cataract surgery (under topical anesthesia) at lower numbers, in view of the likely prolonged period of the current COVID-19 outbreak.