Cornea and Refractive Surgery Services, Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Institute of Cognitive Science, Universität Osnabrück, Neuer Graben, Osnabrück, Germany.
Indian J Ophthalmol. 2021 Feb;69(2):391-394. doi: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_2617_20.
The aim of this study was to formulate a methodological approach for resuming eye bank services during COVID-19 pandemic.
Eye bank operations were temporarily halted in March after the government-mandated "Lockdown" in response to COVID-19 pandemic. Before restarting eye bank operations in May, we studied sources of exposure, performed risk assessment, instituted additional process validations and redefined the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in consultation with the guidelines published by the Eye bank Association of India and All India Ophthalmological Society. The eye bank staff were rigorously trained before and after operations were restarted. We conducted a survey at the end of July to gauge staff attitude and reaction.
Eye banks services resumed on 20 May 2020. Since reopening till the end of July total 41 keratoplasties have been done. 91.75% of all keratoplasties done were therapeutic surgeries and 17% of the surgeries were done using glycerine preserved tissues. No staff had COVID-19 symptoms when the operations restarted and none developed symptoms up to the end of July. All eye bank staff were aware of COVID-19 pandemic and 86% said they felt safe working at the eye bank. 86% of the staff said that they received adequate training and 66% of the staff expressed that they always received proper PPE and kits. Overall, 93% of the staff expressed that the measures taken by the eye bank ensured their safety.
Based on our experience we suggest the following activities for planned resumption of eye bank services during the pandemic: Exposure Risk Analysis, Personal Protective Equipment usage training, SOP Revision and staff training on modified SOPs. Criteria based selection of donor sources, participatory planning involving the staff and double-checking at critical process junctions helped us in managing a smooth transition.
本研究旨在制定一种在 COVID-19 大流行期间恢复眼库服务的方法。
政府为应对 COVID-19 大流行而实施“封锁”后，眼库业务于 3 月暂停。在 5 月重新开始眼库业务之前，我们研究了暴露源，进行了风险评估，在与印度眼库协会和全印度眼科协会发布的指南协商的基础上，增加了额外的流程验证，并重新定义了标准操作程序（SOP）。在重新开始操作之前和之后，对眼库工作人员进行了严格的培训。7 月底，我们进行了一项调查，以评估员工的态度和反应。
眼库服务于 2020 年 5 月 20 日恢复。自重新开放以来，截至 7 月底，共进行了 41 例角膜移植手术。所有角膜移植手术中，治疗性手术占 91.75%，甘油保存组织的手术占 17%。重新开始手术时，没有工作人员出现 COVID-19 症状，截至 7 月底，也没有工作人员出现症状。所有眼库工作人员都了解 COVID-19 大流行，86%的人表示在眼库工作感到安全。86%的工作人员表示他们接受了足够的培训，66%的工作人员表示他们始终收到适当的个人防护设备和套件。总的来说，93%的工作人员表示，眼库采取的措施确保了他们的安全。
根据我们的经验，我们建议在大流行期间计划恢复眼库服务时采取以下活动：暴露风险分析、个人防护设备使用培训、SOP 修订以及对修改后的 SOP 进行员工培训。基于标准选择供体来源、员工参与的规划以及在关键过程节点进行双重检查，帮助我们顺利过渡。
