COVID -19 has impacted us all in a myriad of ways. How has Covid-19 changed the way you work?
There has been a tremendous impact but I anticipate the real impact is some years down the track. Ophthalmologists are at risk (#13 on the list of at-risk professions) because of our proximity to patients when examining them. The precautions we’ve been taking including vaccination) seem to have minimised disease in doctors and staff. We need better/ safer ways to examine patients which are being developed and relevant to all infections, not just COVID-19. On a different level by minimising travel, I have had more time to focus on research and COVID-19 has provided both a threat and a challenge. This has been one of the most stimulating and productive times of my career and in a way, it is a privilege to experience and live through this difficult time in human history.
What do we now know about the impact of COVID-19 on ophthalmic presentation?
In parts of the world , delayed presentation resulted in significant loss of sight and then later, presentation of more advanced disease, sometimes compromising outcomes. The immediate effects on the eye are still being worked out, however. There is also some early evidence to suggest that “long COVID” could have ocular manifestations.
Based on your research , what are the top things you know about COVID-19 that we should know?
Unexpectedly, the eye may play a central role. In my opinion, the virus may invade humans via the ocular surface – tear film/eyelids. The tear film protects the eye, so COVID-19 eye surface infections are relatively uncommon. But the tears convey virus into the nose and nasopharynx from where the virus incubates and spreads. Most authorities believe the virus is inhaled, so this is controversial if this concept is correct, it may explain why we have (so far) missed the boat in reducing infection rates.