Are intravitreal injections essential during the COVID-19 pandemic? Global preferred practice patterns and practical recommendations

Tan A.C.S.; Schwartz R.; Anaya D.; Chatziralli I.; Yuan M.; Cicinelli M.V.; Faes L.; Mustapha M.; Phasukkijwatana N.; Pohlmann D.; Reynolds R.; Rosenblatt A.; Savastano A.; Touhami S.; Vaezi K.; Ventura C.V.; Vogt D.; Ambati J.; de Smet M.D.; Loewenstein A.

Are intravitreal injections essential during the COVID-19 pandemic? Global preferred practice patterns and practical recommendations

Issued Date

2022-12-01

Resource Type

Review

eISSN

20569920

DOI

10.1186/s40942-022-00380-6

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85134023227

Journal Title

International Journal of Retina and Vitreous

Volume

8

Issue

1

Rights Holder(s)

SCOPUS

Bibliographic Citation

International Journal of Retina and Vitreous Vol.8 No.1 (2022)

Suggested Citation

Tan A.C.S., Schwartz R., Anaya D., Chatziralli I., Yuan M., Cicinelli M.V., Faes L., Mustapha M., Phasukkijwatana N., Pohlmann D., Reynolds R., Rosenblatt A., Savastano A., Touhami S., Vaezi K., Ventura C.V., Vogt D., Ambati J., de Smet M.D., Loewenstein A. Are intravitreal injections essential during the COVID-19 pandemic? Global preferred practice patterns and practical recommendations. International Journal of Retina and Vitreous Vol.8 No.1 (2022). doi:10.1186/s40942-022-00380-6 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/85285

Title

Are intravitreal injections essential during the COVID-19 pandemic? Global preferred practice patterns and practical recommendations

Other Contributor(s)

Mahidol University

Abstract

Tertiary outpatient ophthalmology clinics are high-risk environments for COVID-19 transmission, especially retina clinics, where regular follow-up is needed for elderly patients with multiple comorbidities. Intravitreal injection therapy (IVT) for chronic macular diseases, is one of the most common procedures performed, associated with a significant burden of care because of the vigorous treatment regimen associated with multiple investigations. While minimizing the risk of COVID-19 infection transmission is a priority, this must be balanced against the continued provision of sight-saving ophthalmic care to patients at risk of permanent vision loss. This review aims to give evidence-based guidelines on managing IVT during the COVID-19 pandemic in common macular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macula edema and retinal vascular disease and to report on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected IVT practices worldwide. To illustrate some real-world examples, 18 participants in the International Retina Collaborative, from 15 countries and across four continents, were surveyed regarding pre- and during- COVID-19 pandemic IVT practices in tertiary ophthalmic centers. The majority of centers reported a reduction in the number of appointments to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19 with varying changes to their IVT regimen to treat various macula diseases. Due to the constantly evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the uncertainty about the normal resumption of health services, we suggest that new solutions for eye healthcare provision, like telemedicine, may be adopted in the future when we consider new long-term adaptations required to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keyword(s)

Medicine

URI

https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/85285

Collections

Scopus 2022

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