Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ocular Oncology Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Global Perspectives in Ocular Oncology

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic created a worldwide shift in how physician deliver optimal medical care. Ocular oncology practices have had to adapt to new challenges including how the delivery of service is performed in order to minimize SARS-CoV-2 exposure without sacrificing quality. Understanding the individual characteristics of every practice will maximize the efforts to adapt to this new reality. Telemedicine, virtual waiting rooms, and personal protective equipment have become the new standard during these unprecedented times. During clinic and operating room, our practices have had to strive for a new level of synchrony between patient and physician availability to minimize wasted time and exposure risk. Overall, medical care should not be delayed or deferred in patients with malignant ocular tumors during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, implementing safety measures for patients and healthcare workers is crucial to successfully continue to practice ocular oncology.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Manjandavida FP, Honavar SG, Kim U, et al. Ocular oncology practice guidelines during COVID-19 pandemic—an expert consensus. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2020;68(7):1281–91. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijo.IJO_1669_20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Skalet AH, Allen RC, Shields CL, Wilson MW, Mruthyunjaya P, Gombos DS. Considerations for the management and triage of ocular oncology cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ocul Oncol Pathol. 2020;6:219–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Mazzini C, Pieretti G, Vicini G, Nicolosi C, Giattini D, Calamita R, Santoro N, Giansanti F. Ocular oncology service during the COVID-19 outbreak in Florence (Italy): practical considerations for the management of patients. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2021;31(2):NP4–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Lim LW, Yip LW, Tay HW, Ang XL, Lee LK, Chin CF, Yong V. Sustainable practice of ophthalmology during COVID-19: challenges and solutions. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2020;258(7):1427–36.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Saleem SM, Pasquale LR, Sidoti PA, Tsai JC. Virtual Ophthalmology: telemedicine in a COVID-19 era. Am J Ophthalmol. 2020;216:237–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Villegas VM, Murray TG. Adapting the retina practice during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Ophthalmol Manage. 2020;24:e1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Stuart A. COVID-19 pandemic: ocular tumor triage and care. EyeNet. 2020;23(5). https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/covid-19-pandemic-ocular-tumor-triage-and-care?april-2020.

  8. Emanuel EJ, Persad G, Upshur R, Thome B, Parker M, Glickman A, et al. Fair allocation of scarce medical resources in the time of COVID-19. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(21):2049–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. American College of Surgeons. COVID-19 guidelines for triage of cancer surgery patients. vol. 24. Facs.org; 2020. https://www.facs.org/covid-19/clinical-guidance/elective-case/cancer-surgery.

  10. Wong TY, Bandello F. Academic ophthalmology during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic. Ophthalmology. 2020;127(8):e51–2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Chen RWS, Abazari A, Dhar S, Fredrick DR, Friedman IB, Dagi Glass LR, Khouri AS, Kim ET, Laudi J, Park S, Reddy HS, Rosenberg JB, Sandler SF, Shrivastava A, Sun G, Winokur J. Living with COVID-19: a perspective from New York area ophthalmology residency program directors at the epicenter of the pandemic. Ophthalmology. 2020;127(8):e47–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Villegas VM, Murray TG. Personalized medicine and retinoblastoma treatment. Retina Specialist. 2019;5:14–6.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Han D, Suneja A. Make your clinics flow with synchrony: a practical and innovative guide for physicians, managers, and staff. Quality Press; 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Mungmungpuntipantip R, Wiwanitkit V. Ocular manifestation, eye protection, and COVID-19. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2020;258(6):1339.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Leung EH, Flynn HW Jr, Gayer S, Yeh S, Berrocal AM, Olmos de Koo LC, Chen RWS, Albini TA, Foroozan R. Clinical and perioperative management in ophthalmology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 2020;60(3):141–58.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Patel AM, Fernandez-Miranda J, Hwang PH, Nayak JV, Dodd R, Sajjadi H. Precautions for endoscopic transnasal skull base surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Neurosurgery. 2020. https://www.entnet.org/sites/default/files/uploads/covid-19_endosb_lettertoeditor_neurosurgery_update3.23.20.pdf.

  17. America Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Academy supports CMS, offers specific nasal policy. Vol. 26. ENTnet.org; 2020. https://www.entnet.org/content/academy-supports-cms-offers-specific-nasal-policy.

  18. Nagar H, Formenti SC. Cancer and COVID-19—potentially deleterious effects of delaying radiotherapy. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2020;17:332–4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Filippi AR, Russi E, Magrini SM, Corvo R. Letter from Italy: first practical indications for radiation therapy departments during COVID-19 outbreak. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2020;107(3):597–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.03.007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Williams BK Jr, Di Nicola M, Lucio-Alvarez JA, Lally DR, Shields CL. Choroidal melanoma simulating adenoma of the retinal pigment epithelium arising at the site of congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium. Ocul Oncol Pathol. 2020;6(1):39–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Walter SD, Chao DL, Feuer W, Schiffman J, Char DH, Harbour JW. Prognostic implications of tumor diameter in association with gene expression profile for uveal melanoma. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2016;134(7):734–40. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2016.0913.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Jampol LM, Moy CS, Murray TG, Reynolds SM, Albert DM, Schachat AP, Diddie KR, Engstrom RE Jr, Finger PT, Hovland KR, Joffe L, Olsen KR, Wells CG, COMS Follow-up of Plaqued Eyes Working Group. The COMS randomized trial of iodine 125 brachytherapy for choroidal melanoma: IV. Local treatment failure and enucleation in the first 5 years after brachytherapy. COMS Report No. 19. Ophthalmology. 2020;127(4S):S148–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Williams BK Jr, Di Nicola M. Ocular oncology-primary and metastatic malignancies. Med Clin North Am. 2021;105(3):531–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Boldt HC, Murray TG, Binkley EM. Studies evaluating visual outcomes after brachytherapy in uveal melanoma-strengths and limitations of current investigations. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2020;138(2):146–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Murray TG, Latiff A, Villegas VM, Gold AS. Aflibercept for radiation maculopathy study: a prospective, randomized clinical study. Ophthalmol Retina. 2019;3(7):561–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Villegas VM, Gold AS, Wildner A, Latiff A, Murray TG. Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide: a “real world” analysis of visual acuity, pressure and outcomes. Int J Ophthalmol. 2016;9(5):789–91.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Sobrin L, Schiffman JC, Markoe AM, Murray TG. Outcomes of iodine 125 plaque radiotherapy after initial observation of suspected small choroidal melanomas: a pilot study. Ophthalmology. 2005;112(10):1777–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Murray TG, Villegas VM, Bach A, Gold AS. Five-year follow-up of microincisional vitrectomy surgery, endolaser tumor ablation, and gene-expression profiling in small uveal melanoma. J Vitreoretin Dis. 2020.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Villegas VM, Hess DJ, Wildner A, Gold AS, Murray TG. Retinoblastoma. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2013;24(6):581–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Scelfo C, Francis JH, Khetan V, Jenkins T, Marr B, Abramson DH, Shields CL, Pe’er J, Munier F, Berry J, Harbour JW, Yarovoy A, Lucena E, Murray TG, Bhagia P, Paysse E, Tuncer S, Chantada GL, Moll AC, Ushakova T, Plager DA, Ziyovuddin I, Leal CA, Materin MA, Ji XD, Cursino JW, Polania R, Kiratli H, All-Ericsson C, Kebudi R, Honavar SG, Vishnevskia-Dai V, Epelman S, Daniels AB, Ling JD, Traore F, Ramirez-Ortiz MA. An international survey of classification and treatment choices for group D retinoblastoma. Int J Ophthalmol. 2017;10(6):961–7.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Vigoda MM, Latiff A, Murray TG, Tutiven JL, Berrocal AM, Gayer S. Can children undergoing ophthalmologic examinations under anesthesia be safely anesthetized without using an IV line? Clin Ophthalmol. 2011;5:503–8.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Ashkenazy N, Orihuela G, Rodriguez LI, Negron CI, Harbour JW, Berrocal AM. Use of a modified plastic viewing system for safer general anesthesia care in pediatric ophthalmic surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2020;51(11):651–2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Sweid A, Hammoud B, Weinberg JH, Texakalidis P, Xu V, Shivashankar K, Baldassari MP, Das S, Ramesh S, Tjoumakaris S, Shields CL, Ancona-Lezama D, Lim LS, Dalvin LA, Jabbour P. Intra-arterial chemotherapy for retinoblastoma in infants 10 kg: 74 treated eyes with 222 IAC sessions. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2020;41(7):1286–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Grommes C, Rubenstein JL, DeAngelis LM, Ferreri AJM, Batchelor TT. Comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment of newly diagnosed primary CNS lymphoma. Neuro-Oncology. 2019;21:296–305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Russell JF, Villegas VM, Schwartz SG, Weng CY, Davis JL, Flynn HW Jr, Harbour JW. Multimodal imaging in the diagnosis of exophytic juxtapapillary retinal capillary hemangioblastoma. Am J Ophthalmol. 2021;225:128–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Villegas VM, Schwartz SG, Flynn HW Jr, Capó H, Berrocal AM, Murray TG, Harbour JW. Distinguishing torpedo maculopathy from similar lesions of the posterior segment. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2014;45(3):222–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Bach A, Gold AS, Villegas VM, Wildner AC, Ehlies FJ, Murray TG. Spontaneous exudative retinal detachment in a patient with Sturge-Weber, vol. 1. Eye Vis; 2014. p. 7.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Al Bayyat G, Arreaza-Kaufman D, Venkateswaran N, Galor A, Karp CL. Update on pharmacotherapy for ocular surface squamous neoplasia. Eye Vis (Lond). 2019;6:24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Karp CL, Mercado C, Venkateswaran N, Ruggeri M, Galor A, Garcia A, Sivaraman KR, Fernandez MP, Bermudez A, Dubovy SR. Use of high-resolution optical coherence tomography in the surgical management of ocular surface squamous neoplasia: a pilot study. Am J Ophthalmol. 2019;206:17–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Owen JL, Kibbi N, Worley B, Kelm RC, Wang JV, Barker CA, Behshad R, Bichakjian CK, Bolotin D, Bordeaux JS, Bradshaw SH, Cartee TV, Chandra S, Cho NL, Choi JN, Council ML, Demirci H, Eisen DB, Esmaeli B, Golda N, Huang CC, Ibrahim SF, Jiang SB, Kim J, Kuzel TM, Lai SY, Lawrence N, Lee EH, Leitenberger JJ, Maher IA, Mann MW, Minkis K, Mittal BB, Nehal KS, Neuhaus IM, Ozog DM, Petersen B, Rotemberg V, Samant S, Samie FH, Servaes S, Shields CL, Shin TM, Sobanko JF, Somani AK, Stebbins WG, Thomas JR, Thomas VD, Tse DT, Waldman AH, Wong MK, Xu YG, Yu SS, Zeitouni NC, Ramsay T, Reynolds KA, Poon E, Alam M. Sebaceous carcinoma: evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. Lancet Oncol. 2019;20(12):e699–714.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. de la Vega G, Villegas VM, Velazquez J, Barrios M, Murray TG, Samy Elhammady M, Sidani C. Intraorbital granular cell tumor ophthalmologic and radiologic findings. Neuroradiol J. 2015;28(2):140–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

None of the authors have any financial interest in the material discussed in this chapter.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, USA

    Victor M. Villegas

  2. Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Victor M. Villegas

  3. Department of Surgery, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, USA

    Victor M. Villegas

  4. Miami Ocular Oncology and Retina (MOOR), Miami, FL, USA

    Timothy G. Murray

Authors
  1. Victor M. Villegas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Timothy G. Murray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Timothy G. Murray .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ocular Oncology Service Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

    Bhavna V. Chawla

  2. Retina Service Massachusetts Eye and Ear Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Mary E. Aronow

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Villegas, V.M., Murray, T.G. (2022). Ocular Oncology Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic. In: Chawla, B.V., Aronow, M.E. (eds) Global Perspectives in Ocular Oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08250-4_40

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08250-4_40

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-08249-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-08250-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation