Current safety preferences for intravitreal injection during COVID 19 pandemic
The new Corona virus disease (COVID 19) pandemic is caused by SARS CoV 2, a single stranded RNA virus. Human to human transmission occurs mainly by air droplets up to 1 m distance and contact with contaminated surfaces or hands [1, 2] The virus is effectively inactivated by ethanol and chlorine containing disinfectants [3] Intravitreal injections (IVI) have become the most commonly performed ophthalmic procedure. Patients requiring IVI therapy are often at increased risk for complications associated with COVID 19 given their age and comorbidities. These patients can pass through multiple stations in clinics, including the reception, waiting halls, visual acuity testing room, imaging suite, physician, and injection rooms. In addition, slit lamp examination and the injection procedure itself expose both patient and treating physician as they create a close face to face contact between them. All the above, combined with the current high volume of IVI, poses a significant public health risk for COVID 19 transmission. Conversely, withholding IVI can cause irreversible vision loss in some patients.
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