26 March, 2020

The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is rapidly changing the way the health and development communities are working. With the proximity of eye health professionals to patients during eye examinations and reports that the virus can cause conjunctivitis, COVID-19 has implications for eye health and eye health professionals.  

IAPB is collating and sharing information and resources specific to eye health and international development in relation to COVID-19.

Access Details

COVID-19 Resources: https://www.iapb.org/news/covid-19-resources-here-is-what-we-know/

Access Details

To access the referenced article please visit:

https://rdcu.be/b215r

The COS is pleased to provide access to the presentations on Ergonomics that took place during the 2017 COS Annual Meeting in Montreal, QC. On this page you will find a variety of resources and video presentations on the subject of ergonomics.

CPD Credit

Scanning resources that are relevant to your professional practice by enhancing your awareness of new evidence, perspectives and findings can be claimed as Section 2: Self-Learning under Scanning in MAINPORT with the MOC Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Handouts

• Home exercises covering a wide range of motions: 2017 COS Exercise Handout
• Commercial products, websites, books, and equipment and consultation services to improve ergonomic balance: Ergonomics handout

Video Presentation

1. Introduction

Dr. Lorne Bellan’s brief introduction to the ergonomics session.

2. Re-attaching the focus on body mechanics and ergonomics

• George Matos, CAT(C)
During the 2017 COS Annual Meeting, George Matos presented two engaging lectures that encouraged delegates to re-attach their focus on body mechanics and ergonomics. During these sessions Mr. Matos explains the impacts of body positioning in the various aspects of ophthalmology, how this can negatively impact body mechanics and then he provides some tips and exercises to combat the negative effects.

PowerPoint slides for the above session: Matos Current Concepts Talk – Slides

3. The incidence and effects of work-related musculoskeletal injury among ophthalmologists

• Ashley Brissette, MD

Dr. Ashley Brissette presented her findings from a systematic review of current literature regarding ergonomics and work-related MSK injury in the field of ophthalmology.

4. Occupational musculoskeletal pain & injury in Canadian ophthalmologists

• Vlad Diaconita, MD

Dr. Vlad Diaconita presented the results from a survey that was sent out to the COS membership in spring 2017 regarding MSK pain and injury.

Discussion 1

5. Developing an educational module for ergonomics in ophthalmology

• Timothy Ratzlaff, MD

Dr. Timothy Ratzlaff discussed the content and creation of an educational module built by applying the main points highlighted in Ashley Brissette’s literature review.

6.  Canadian Ophthalmic Practitioner Ergonomic (COPE) survey

• Femida Kherani, MD

Dr. Femida Kherani presented the results from the COPE survey, which was sent out to multiple listservs in May 2017.

Discussion 2

This resource is only available in English.

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

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.

Working at an academic institution I am often exposed to which universities are at the forefront of providing great educational resources. One of the major players in this field is the University of Iowa Ophthalmology Department that has been diligently cataloguing cases, images, videos, and tutorials online at eyerounds.org for over a decade. As of January 2020, their free online atlas has 1200+ high-quality images that can be categorically searched. I have found this especially useful when I want to show residents (or myself) images of rare pathology quickly on my phone or computer. During rare downtime in the clinic or OR, you can also use the images as a quick quizzing tool. Although there is a video library as well, I have found the quality is variable depending on how long ago the video was recorded.

Aside from eyerounds.org, the University of Iowa has been a leader in creating a wet lab (simulation) curriculum for residents. Those of you that have trainees may be interested in viewing these resources available through a link at the bottom of their homepage. Other links they provide such as Cataract Surgery for Greenhorns or Gonioscopy.org may also be of use for trainees.

Recommended by Christine Law, MD FRCSC
Chair, Practice Resource Centre
Canadian Ophthalmological Society