Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Academy of Ophthalmology now finds it essential that all ophthalmologists cease providing any treatment other than urgent or emergent care immediately.

We now live and practice in a critically different medical reality—a rapidly evolving viral pandemic that is projected to, if unchecked, kill millions of Americans and tens of millions around the world. Public health experts agree that we must do two things on an urgent basis:

First, we must reduce the risk of the SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission from human to human and the rate of new case development. Only in that way can we flatten the curve and not overwhelm our very limited supply of hospital beds, ICU beds, ventilators and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machines. We have already hit that stage in a few hard-hit metropolitan areas.

Second, we must as a nation conserve needed disposable medical supplies and focus them to the hospitals where they are most needed.

This disease is now in every state and the number of new cases is currently doubling every one to two days. Already, a handful of our ophthalmologist colleagues have died from COVID-19. It is essential that we as physicians and as responsible human beings do what we can and must to reduce virus transmission and enhance our nation’s ability to care for those desperately ill from the disease. Public health experts unanimously agree that our window to modify the spread of disease is a narrow and closing one.

Accordingly, the American Academy of Ophthalmology strongly recommends that all ophthalmologists provide only urgent or emergent care.  This includes both office-based care and surgical care. The Academy recognizes that “urgency” is determined by physician judgment and must always take into account individual patient medical and social circumstances.  Each of us has a societal responsibility to not function as a vector of a potentially fatal disease—and one for which a widely available treatment or vaccine does not currently exist.

All other factors—business, finance, inconvenience, etc.—are remotely secondary. This is an existential crisis. We as physicians must respond to it and support our colleagues and our communities. Be safe.

Access Details

For additional information go to aao.org/coronavirus.

The AAO has created a portal for ophthalmologists to receive daily updates on COVID-19, including information on how to keep Ophthalmologists and their patients safe.

Coronavirus and Eye Care

This interim guidance has been updated based on currently available information about COVID-19 and the current situation in the United States, which includes community transmission, infections identified in healthcare personnel (HCP), and shortages of facemasks, N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) (commonly known as N95 respirators), eye protection, gloves, and gowns.

Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings

3 videos on how to make-it-yourself, universal slit-lamp and microscope shield for eye care professionals: ophthalmologists, optometrists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvnx_KIUE9A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXm624pBDUM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5wxU2UV0nI

Best practice for prevention of droplet or contact transmission of infectious agents in Ophthalmology clinics

The Canadian Ophthalmological Society is pleased to provide you to a recording of the webinar on practical ergonomic tips in the ophthalmology operating room, that took place on December 9, 2019.

In the session George Matos, Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention Specialist and ophthalmologist Dr. Lorne Bellan review how to adapt your posture to protect yourself through a day of surgery. This webinar includes thoughts to have in mind at the start of your surgical day, including how to set up your foot pedals, chair, operating table and surgical microscope, each to optimize your posture and support during your day of surgery and to minimize the risk of repetitive stress injuries.

1. Four Steps Leaders Can Take To Increase Joy In Work

IHI Director Jessica Perlo, co-author of the IHI White Paper, shares four steps leaders can take to help their staff find joy and meaning in their work.

2.How To Get Ready For “What Matters To You?” Conversations

The first step to improving joy in work is for leaders to engage colleagues to identify what matters to them in their work. Jessica Perlo, IHI White Paper co-author, describes three actions to help leaders prepare for these conversations.

Access Details

For more information about IHI Framework for Improving Joy in Work please visit: http://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/IHIWhitePapers/Framework-Improving-Joy-in-Work.aspx

The February 2020 issue of the Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology (CJO) is now available online and we are pleased to unveil our new look for 2020.

What’s in the February issue?

Resident Perspectives + visual abstract: Our talented team of residents have summarized 5 articles from the issue, with a focus on topics and issues that are relevant to learners here in Canada and around the globe. And the February visual abstract provides a graphical summary of the article, Pentosan-associated maculopathy: prevalence, screening guidelines, and spectrum of findings based on prospective multimodal analysis.

Special supplement on Tele-Retina Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy: This timely supplement includes an editorial from the CJO Editor-in-Chief, two original research articles, and evidence-based guidelines from the Canadian Retina Research Network (CR2N) Tele-Retina Steering Committee. The supplement will be freely available until the end of 2020.

Review articles, original research, and lots more, including:

• Competency-based medical education in ophthalmology residency training: a review
• Novel imaging modalities in patients with uveitis
• Ocular and facial injuries sustained by goaltenders in the National Hockey League: a preventable problem
• Impact of eyeglasses on academic performance in primary school children
• Optical coherence tomography as a tool to detect early sympathetic ophthalmia in an asymptomatic patient
• Foreign body extrusion associated with N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate glue used with rectus muscle hang-back recession

Follow the CJO on Twitter (@CanJOphth) and Instagram (@cjo_jco).

COVID-19 Note (from website): Please be patient as we review the information and implications of the rapidly evolving Coronavirus situation and the Public Health recomendations announced on March 12th. Info to follow as it becomes available. Thank you for your understanding.

The retreat is presented by CSI Clarity Seema Institute and will be held April 17 – April 19 , 2020 in Canmore, Alberta at the Malcolm Hotel.

Learn how to make dry eye treatments accessible and lucrative in your practice!

This weekend retreat is aimed at the Eye Care Professional who wishes to elevate their knowledge and confidence in efficiently integrating an evidence-based dry eye examination into their practice. The retreat discusses available therapeutic treatments, risks and complications. offer training for your frontline staff to elevate their comprehension of dry eye disease, and coach them on how to discuss dry eye testing and treatments including dry eye retail products.

CPD Credits

up to 12 CE credit hours* COPE accreditation pending** 22+ Cat 1 CE credits for Alberta OD’s

Access Details

For more information visit the event website https://www.csievent.com/