Rethinking Elective Cataract Surgery Diagnostics, Assessments, and Tools after the COVID-19 Pandemic Experience and Beyond: Insights from the EUROCOVCAT Group
Daniele Tognetto,
Antoine P. Brézin,
Arthur B. Cummings,
Boris E. Malyugin,
Ozlem Evren Kemer,
Isabel Prieto,
Robert Rejdak,
Miguel A. Teus,
Riikka Törnblom,
Mario D. Toro,
Alex L. Vinciguerra,
Rosa Giglio,
Chiara De Giacinto
Affiliations
Daniele Tognetto
Eye Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34134 Trieste, Italy
Antoine P. Brézin
Université de Paris, Hôpital Cochin, 75014 Paris, France
Arthur B. Cummings
Wellington Eye Clinic, D18 T8P3 Dublin, Ireland
Boris E. Malyugin
S. Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Federal State Institution, Russian Federation, 127486 Moscow, Russia
Ozlem Evren Kemer
University of Health Sciences, Ankara City Hospital, 06800 Ankara, Turkey
Isabel Prieto
Department of Ophthalmology, Fernando Fonseca Hospital, 2720-276 Amadora, Portugal
Robert Rejdak
Department of General Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-079 Lublin, Poland
Miguel A. Teus
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alcalá, 28802 Madrid, Spain
Riikka Törnblom
Department of Ophthalmology, TYKS Hospital, 20521 Turku, Finland
Mario D. Toro
Department of General Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-079 Lublin, Poland
Alex L. Vinciguerra
Eye Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34134 Trieste, Italy
Rosa Giglio
Eye Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34134 Trieste, Italy
Chiara De Giacinto
Eye Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34134 Trieste, Italy
The progressive deterioration of the visual function in patients on waiting lists for cataract surgery has a negative impact on their quality of life, especially in the elderly population. Patient waiting times for cataract surgeries in many healthcare settings have increased recently due to the prolonged stop or slowdown of elective cataract surgery as a result of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). The aim of this review is to highlight the impact of such a “de-prioritization” of cataract surgery and to summarize some critical issues and useful hints on how to reorganize cataract pathways, with a special focus on perioperative diagnostic tools during the recovery phase and beyond. The experiences of a group of surgeons originating from nine different countries, named the European COVID-19 Cataract Group (EUROCOVCAT), have been combined with the literature and recommendations from scientific ophthalmic societies and healthcare institutions. Key considerations for elective cataract surgery should include the reduction of the number of unnecessary visits and examinations, adoption of precautionary measures, and implementation of telemedicine instruments. New strategies should be adopted to provide an adequate level of assistance and to guarantee safety conditions. Flexibility will be the watchword and regular updates would be necessary following scientific insights and the development of the pandemic.
