key: cord-0935234-5pi3bzli
authors: Korobelnik, Jean-François
title: Response to letter: COVID-19 and macular edema—a necessary blindness?
date: 2020-07-18
journal: Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol
DOI: 10.1007/s00417-020-04839-w
sha: 88364c6b7aec493cc252e597a69c3524b8bf63ac
doc_id: 935234
cord_uid: 5pi3bzli

nan

We certainly agree with Navel et al. that ophthalmologists have faced difficult decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic and that a delicate balance is needed to protect both lives and vision. In order to strike this balance, it is important that all decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the local infection rate and individual risk for loss of visual acuity. We believe that strategies for managing patients with retinal disease during this uncertain time should focus on the following:

& Minimizing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for both the patient and healthcare staff & Simplifying anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment regimens & Prioritizing treatment for those at greatest risk of irreversible vision loss By implementing stringent safety practices and triaging those who are most vulnerable, we have the opportunity to continue to provide the best possible care to patients.

With lockdown restrictions now easing in many countries, we are re-evaluating our initial guidance [1] to determine which measures can be relaxed while the infection rate remains low and which should remain in place until a suitable vaccine or treatment for COVID-19 becomes available. The updated guidance for the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and for the post-lockdown era will be available from https://www.visionacademy.org/.

Funding information Writing and editorial assistance was provided by Hollie Robinson, PhD of Complete HealthVizion, Ltd., McCann Health Medical Communications, funded by Bayer Consumer Care AG, Pharmaceuticals, Basel, Switzerland.

Guidance for anti-VEGF intravitreal injections during the COVID-19 pandemic

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UMR 1219, F-33000

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Conflict of interest Jean-François Korobelnik is a consultant for Allergan, Bayer, Kanghong, Novartis, and Roche.