Abstract

Purpose: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is a rather challenging time for all worldwide. Purpose of this paper is to share our plan of actions to minimise the transmission risk of novel corona virus disease (COVID-19) among patients and health workers providing a comprehensive corneal service in a tertiary hospital in the UK.

Methods: After thorough risk assessment, measures have been taken to deal with the corona virus pandemic that required very close collaboration of all members of the corneal service, members of the infection control department and other associated colleagues.

Results: A systematic approach was devised, and significant changes were made in the administrative and clinical settings to minimise the transmission risk of SARS-CoV-2 within the corneal service at a tertiary hospital in the UK. Patient’s clinical face-to-face appointments were significantly reduced, high risk corneal patients were identified and approached via a novel telephone consultation system, special urgent care corneal clinics were organised, and a new home delivery system of all medications was also introduced. Clinical room environment was optimised with patient education, thorough disinfection protocol, proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and a strict protocol of face-to-face appointments.

Conclusion: We believe that the development and setting up of all emergency measures that we introduced in the corneal service to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic aiming to protect both patients and health workers were well received by everyone, particularly the patients. However, gradual reopening the regular clinics, once this pandemic is controlled, will be a forthcoming challenge keeping in mind the possibility of a second wave of infection when the “social distancing” and isolation systems start to relax.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Transmission Risk; Corneal Service; Ophthalmologist

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