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Abstract

Background: The pandemic has forced the healthcare system to adopt newer approach towards patient care. With the changing scenario of healthcare delivery, Ophthalmologists had to bring about several changes in the way the patients are seen and operated upon. Contact procedures were entirely restricted to emergencies while modifications were introduced to minimize the exposure of the surgeon. However, these modifications were introduced just keeping in mind the spread of infection. The probability that these modifications could affect the optics in ophthalmology is high and cannot be ruled out.

Aim: To highlight the effects of modifications introduced in ophthalmic equipment during the pandemic over the visibility for the surgeon and discuss its impact on patient-care in ophthalmology

Design and Methods: Thorough search of literature on PubMed using keywords visibility and PPE (Personal Protection Equipment), fogging and PPE, face mask and fogging, aberrations and PPE, surgeries and PPE was done. We found 35 articles which highlighted the effects on visibility with PPE and effects on eyes with prolonged wearing of masks.

Results: Several factors have contributed to reduction in visibility for the surgeon. These factors have in turn affected the overall quality of examination and surgical outcome in Ophthalmology.

Conclusions: The use of PPE during the pandemic could have been a contributory factor for missing relevant findings during examination of patients. For Ophthalmologists in particular the visibility and optics play a crucial role in management of the patient and has been invariable affected by introduction of modifications at the instrument and surgeon level.