Implementing the new normal in ophthalmology care beyond COVID-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the clinical landscape immeasurably. The need to physical distance requires rethinking how we deliver ophthalmic care. Within healthcare, we will need to focus our resources on the five T's: Utilising technology, multidisciplinary clinical teams with wide professional talents need to work efficiently to reduce patient contact time. With regular testing, this will allow us to reduce the risk further. We also must acknowledge the explosion of different modalities to train our future ophthalmologists and the global challenges and advantages that these bring. Finally, we must not forget the psychological impact that this pandemic will have on ophthalmologists and ancillary staff, and need to have robust mechanisms for support.

Keywords: Preventive medicine/screening; cornea/external disease; examination techniques; lens/cataract; practice management; pre-op medical testing; socioeconomics and education in medicine/ophthalmology; telemedicine.