The COVID 19 pandemic of 2020 changed the world and the people who inhabit it forever. As was predicted by the epidemiologists, the effects will last long after the acute phase has passed. World economies will struggle to recover, and the common man will deal with redundancies, inflation and the stress of daily living.
One much overlooked area of eye care in cataract surgery is ocular surface dysfunction most commonly presenting with symptoms of eye pain, grittiness, watering and ‘dryness’. Since the pandemic, the increased use of smart-phones and other devices, has led to the problem becoming more widespread. For patients undergoing cataract surgery my team have introduced a routine treatment package for tear film dysfunction in both the pre and post-operative period. This will include advice on how to manage eye health and post surgery eye recovery.
Another area of concern is the visual recovery following cataract surgery, particularly when the patient has cataracts in both eyes and is undergoing the operation on the first eye. Pre-pandemic, this was never an issue as I would perform the second eye surgery within 7 days of the first eye. The health policies which mandate social distancing and COVID testing prior to surgery, as well as patient preferences, have made this more challenging to achieve. The greater interval between operating on the two eyes leads to an ‘imbalance’ which can delay visual recovery after cataract surgery. This creates additional anxiety for the patient. In this regard, I am frequently asked what to do about glasses after surgery. My team have developed an advice sheet on options on how to cope during the interim period between first and second eye surgery.
In response to these and other new challenges, Eye Care Surgical has expanded its services into health and well being and clinical innovations. These new areas will cover aspects of eye care not traditionally dealt with in the private sector and will enable the team to deliver a more holistic eye care service.
