Firstly, we want to wish good health to you and to your loved ones.

Welcome to the UK and Ireland Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons 5th digital communication on the challenges caused by COVID-19. We are beginning to understand that the rate of infection (R0) is variable across the four nations of the UK and it looks like there are going to be regional differences across the UK on how and when we begin to emerge from the lockdown. Nevertheless, we as health professionals have to start thinking and planning how to tackle our clinical workload / backlog in our NHS. To this end the UKISCRS in conjunction with the RCOphth has recently published some guidelines on restoring Ophthalmology services: https://www.ukiscrs.org.uk/news/an-important-letter-from-our-president-and-the-royal-college-of-ophthalmology

The next big question that lurks in every Ophthalmic surgeon’s mind is about the PPE with regards to cataract and other intraocular surgical procedures. We highlight a peer reviewed review article published in the Annals of Surgery that provides an excellent review of PPE in the context of COVID-19. As surgeons we feel that one needs to be knowledgeable about transmission of the virus, as well as the capabilities and limitations of their respective PPE. Lastly don't forget to ZOOM in for our 4th Webinar on the 21st of May where we will be discussing with experts, some advances in tele-ophthalmology and telemedicine and its role in the post COVID era.
Stay well and safe.
Best wishes,
Philip Bloom & Sathish Srinivasan,
UKISCRS President & President Elect

> Download 'PPE & COVID: Annals Of Surgery'