RISK PREVENTION AND MAINTAINING ACCESS TO EFFECTIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY PRACTICE IN COVID-19 CONDITIONS AT LOZENETZ HOSPITAL SOFIA

Abstract

During the Covid-19 pandemic, eye care professionals are at serious risk of contracting Sars-Cov-2. The reason for this is the specific examination course, requiring close contact with the patient's face, the presence of Sars-CoV-2 in the conjunctival secretions, the use of multiple instruments and equipment, which requires thorough and effective disinfection. The present paper describes the changes in the daily work of the Department of Ophthalmology at Lozenetz Hospital in Sofia for the period 2020-2022 carried out to provide a safe working environment for both medical staff and patients. The measures concern the reorganization of the offices and adjacent spaces, modification of the protocols for appointments, triage, follow-up, necessary procedures, especially for conditions with long-term control need - e.g., macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, etc. as well as rational management of medical personnel.

Keywords

• covid-19
• sars-cov-2 infection
• ophthalmology
• risk
• prevention
• triage
• safety