Effect of Covid-19 on Eye Banks and Corneal Transplantations: Current Perspectives

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic exerted a great impact on medical practice, which was reframed according to the actual needs. Ophthalmological services and procedures including corneal transplantation did not represent an exception. The adoption and implementation of new standard operating procedures as well as of new technologies for remote consultation and smart-working reshaped daily activities of both eye bankers, physicians, researchers, and patients. Regulatory restrictions were issued redefining corneal donor eligibility criteria, as well as handling and harvesting procedures of donor ocular tissues. Surgical schedules underwent an abrupt contraction with prioritization of urgent procedures. Local lockdowns and confinement strategies resulted in both a reduction and redirection of research activities. The evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 colonization of ocular tissues, long-term corneal storage techniques, new disinfection strategies, split corneal transplants and cell-based therapies for the treatment of corneal disease peaked in the pipeline. Aim of this article is to summarizes the overall impact of the pandemic on the corneal transplantation machinery, and the current and future perspectives for the corneal transplant community.

Immediate sequential vs. delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…8 Finally, the most recent COVID-19 pandemic exposed the frailty of an already vulnerable medical system, constantly facing the effects of the “demographic time bomb” and of the constant lack of time-related, space-related, and personnel-related resources. 4,57–60 However, according to the data provided by the NRSs included in this study, the actual usage of ISBCS for bilateral cataract cases in real-world scenarios is only 3.4% (ISBCS n = 303 204; DSBCS n = 8 934 699), an estimate probably shaped by the combination of the extensive regulatory limitations and the doubts that surgeons hold toward ISBCS.…”

EBEI: A new index of eye bank efficiency

“…A potential reason for the latter could be the implementation of long-term storage techniques for corneal tissues in Europe, which enables the distribution of previously collected corneal grafts. [6][7][8]18 In fact, EBEI could shed some new light on the data we gained from recently published reports. In this context, the COVID-19 experience is emblematic.…”

“…[3][4][5] Eye Banks (EBs), responsible for the ocular tissue recovery, testing and processing, have gained a crucial role in guaranteeing a constant supply of suitable tissues. [6][7][8] However, as proposed by the analysis of Gain et al, a critical imbalance still remains between corneal blindness and access to available corneal tissues. 9 These difficulties have been highlighted by the challenges posed by the current COVID-19 pandemic.…”

“…9 These difficulties have been highlighted by the challenges posed by the current COVID-19 pandemic. 2,[6][7][8]10,11 In fact, the lockdown related restrictions determined a complete rearrangement of all health activities, with deferrals and cancellation of elective surgical procedures, including corneal transplantation. [11][12][13][14] A number of papers have since been published trying to analyze the phenomenon, often providing mixed or conflicting results.…”

Changing inclinations of eye banking

“…Estimation of SARS-CoV-2 colonization in ocular tissues, long-term corneal preservation, new disinfection strategies, alternatives to donor corneal tissues, custom corneal transplants, and cell-based therapies for the treatment of corneal disease were some of the avenues that were widely explored during the recent COVID pandemic’. [ 2 3 4 ]…”