COVID-19: The Role of the Ophthalmologist in ICU

ABSTRACT

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a devastating impact on patient lives. COVID-19 impacts the respiratory system and this leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which increases the likelihood of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Patients admitted to ICU are at increased risk of developing ophthalmological complications due to the systemic effects of COVID-19 along with the side effects of the mechanical ventilators and the regular proning that patients are exposed to. This article presents an overview of sight-impairing ophthalmic conditions seen in COVID-19 patients admitted to ICU admissions. The article provides a brief commentary on the clinical signs and examinations that intensive care nurses and doctors have to be vigilant of before escalating the patient care to the Ophthalmic team.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• education
• emergency
• ICU
• ophthalmology

AUTHORS’ CONTRIBUTIONS

All authors provided content and edited this article.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

None

ETHICS APPROVAL AND CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE

None

CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION

Yes

COMPETING INTERESTS

None

Additional information

Funding

The authors have no funding to report.