Loading...
A Survey on the Impact of COVID-19 on Lacrimal Surgery: The Asia-Pacific Perspective
Nair, Akshay Gopinathan Ali, Mohammad Javed
Nair, Akshay Gopinathan
Ali, Mohammad Javed
Citations
Altmetric:
Genre
Journal article
Date
2020-11-04
Advisor
Committee member
Group
Department
Permanent link to this record
Collections
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S279728
Abstract
Aim: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdown on lacrimal surgery among oculoplastic surgeons in the Asia-Pacific region.
Methods: An institutional board review approved anonymous electronic survey was sent out via email to oculoplastic surgeons across the Asia-Pacific region. All responses were tabulated and analysed.
Results: A total of 259 valid responses were received. Nearly 87% of the surgeons agreed that lacrimal procedures were associated with a high risk of COVID-19 transmission. In all, at the time of taking the survey, 151/259 (58.3%) of the surgeons were not performing any lacrimal surgeries in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and 71/259 (27.4%) of the respondents were only performing emergency lacrimal surgeries. External dacryocystorhinostomy was the most commonly performed lacrimal procedure across the region and lacrimal procedures contributed to at least 25% of the income for nearly a third of the respondents. Majority of the respondents were female (52.9%), but a significantly higher proportion of male oculoplastic surgeons were still performing lacrimal surgeries during the lockdown. Over 75% of respondents indicated that resuming lacrimal procedures is important to their practice.
Conclusion: The survey showed that there was a general agreement among the surveyed oculoplastic surgeons in the Asia-Pacific region that lacrimal procedures were associated with a high risk of COVID-19 transmission and over 85% of them of had either stopped performing elective lacrimal surgeries altogether or were providing only emergent care. It is likely that not performing elective lacrimal procedures, COVID-19 has financially impacted a high percentage of the surveyed oculoplastic surgeons.
Description
Citation
Nair AG, Narayanan N, Ali MJ. A Survey on the Impact of COVID-19 on Lacrimal Surgery: The Asia-Pacific Perspective. Clin Ophthalmol. 2020;14:3789-3799. https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S279728
Citation to related work
Informa UK Limited
Has part
Clinical Ophthalmology, Vol. 14
ADA compliance
For Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation, including help with reading this content, please contact scholarshare@temple.edu