All India Ophthalmological Society - Oculoplastics Association of India consensus statement on preferred practices in oculoplasty and lacrimal surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic
Raghuraj Hegde, Mohammad Javed Ali, AkshayGopinathan Nair, MandeepS Bajaj, SubhashM Betharia, Kasturi Bhattacharjee, ApjitK Chhabra, JayantaK Das, Gagan Dudeja, A. K. Grover, Santosh G Honavar, Usha Kim, Lakshmi Mahesh, Bipasha Mukherjee, Anita Sethi, Mukesh Sharma, Usha Singh
Abstract
Oculoplastic surgeries encompass both emergency surgeries for traumatic conditions and infectious disorders as well as elective aesthetic procedures. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a drastic change in this practice. Given the highly infectious nature of the disease as well as the global scarcity of medical resources; it is only prudent to treat only emergent conditions during the pandemic as we incorporate evidence-based screening and protective measures into our practices. This manuscript is a compilation of evidence-based guidelines for surgical procedures that oculoplastic surgeons can employ during the COVID-19 pandemic. These guidelines also serve as the basic framework upon which further recommendations may be based on in the future, as elective surgeries start being performed on a regular basis.