Aerosol containment box for laser treatment of retinopathy of prematurity in COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Type 1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) requires emergency intervention and laser is an established modality of treatment. Laser treatment for ROP under topical anesthesia can be considered as an aerosol-generating procedure due to crying that puts health care workers at high risk of COVID-19 transmission. Aerosol containment box (ACB) is known to minimize aerosol transmission and there are reports of ROP laser done through incubator. Combining these two ideas, we describe a new application of ACB with suction for laser treatment of ROP thereby, reducing risk to health care team without compromising timely effective, and safe treatment for ROP.

Keywords

• aerosol containment box
• aerosol-generating procedure
• laser for retinopathy of prematurity
• reduction of aerosol transmission
• retinopathy of prematurity