The value of routine ophthalmological tests in the screening for lung transplantation

Abstract

We aimed to analyse the results of ophthalmological examinations in the screening before and in the follow-up after lung transplantation. Altogether, 295 consecutive patients who had undergone ophthalmological examination in the screening before lung transplantation were analysed. Preoperatively 27% ocular abnormalities were found; none of them formed a contraindication for the transplantation. Of the 122 patients who underwent transplantation, 24 (20%) had postoperative ocular complaints. We can conclude that, because of the absence of contraindications in all of these patients, routine ophthalmological screening before transplantation is not recommended. Routine postoperative screening is not required, either.

Clinical utility of pre-transplant ophthalmic consultation for lung transplant recipients: implications in the COVID-19 pandemic era

“…Additionally, none of the presumed "absolute contraindications" to transplantation, such as incidental ocular malignancy or asymptomatic intraocular infection, meet epidemiological screening criteria [3,8]. Our data are similar to published numbers by Sere et al, who also found no ocular contraindications to lung transplantation (0/295), resulting in a systematic change to the national Dutch lung transplant program that no longer requires inpatient ophthalmologic screening [9]. Therefore, we support a symptom-based approach to both pre-and post-transplant consultation in order to minimize harm through unnecessary exposures and potential medication side effects (e.g., phenylephrine-induced reflex bradycardia) [4,10].…”

A Measured Approach to Inpatient Ophthalmologic Screening in the COVID-19 Era: A Multicenter Perspective

“… 12 Retrospective data from 295 patients found 0 ocular contraindications to lung transplantation in routine pretransplant examinations in this especially vulnerable, immunocompromised population. 13 These findings recently were replicated. 14 …”