Conexiant
Login
  • Corneal Physician
  • Glaucoma Physician
  • New Retinal Physician
  • Ophthalmology Management
  • Ophthalmic Professional
  • Presbyopia Physician
  • Retinal Physician
The Ophthalmologist
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Latest
    • Insights
    • Case Studies
    • Opinion & Personal Narratives
    • Research & Innovations
    • Product Profiles

    Featured Topics

    • Anterior Segment
    • Glaucoma
    • Retina

    Issues

    • Latest Issue
    • Archive
  • Subspecialties
    • Cataract
    • Cornea
    • Glaucoma
    • Neuro-ophthalmology
    • Oculoplastics
    • Pediatric
    • Retina
  • Business

    Business & Profession

    • Professional Development
    • Business and Entrepreneurship
    • Practice Management
    • Health Economics & Policy
  • Training & Education

    Career Development

    • Professional Development
    • Career Pathways

    Events

    • Webinars
    • Live Events
  • Events
    • Live Events
    • Webinars
  • Community

    People & Profiles

    • Power List
    • Voices in the Community
    • Authors & Contributors
  • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
Subscribe
Subscribe

False

Advertisement
The Ophthalmologist / Issues / 2020 / Oct / The Trouble with Triage
Practice Management

The Trouble with Triage

Do asymptomatic COVID-19 patients pose a risk to ophthalmologists during elective examinations?

By Phoebe Harkin 10/20/2020 1 min read

Share

In light of COVID-19’s threat to healthcare professionals, it is now common for clinics to screen patients before they enter the clinic – but how effective is triage when many carry the virus asymptomatically? Researchers at the İzmir Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Turkey, decided to find out by studying an examination room visited by patients who had passed triage.

Samples were taken from five circular zones within a one-meter diameter of the patient – including slit lamp breath shield, phoropter surfaces, tonometer and door handles – and analyzed for viral material. The bad news? SARS-CoV-2 was found in two of seven post-examination samples. The (potentially) good news? The study could only detect viral material – not infectivity, virulence, viability, or viral load. Further research is needed to assess the potential infection risk of asymptomatic patients during routine eye exams.

References

  1. H Aytoğan et al., “Detection of coronavirus disease 2019 viral material on environmental surfaces of an ophthalmology examination room,” JAMA Ophthalmol [Epub ahead of print] (2020). PMID: 32761201.

About the Author(s)

Phoebe Harkin

I’ve always loved telling stories. So much so, I decided to make a job of it. I finished a Masters in Magazine Journalism and spent three years working as a creative copywriter before itchy feet sent me (back)packing. It took seven months and 13 countries, but I’m now happily settled on The Ophthalmologist, where I’m busy getting stuck into all things eyeballs.

More Articles by Phoebe Harkin

Related Content

Newsletters

Receive the latest Ophthalmology news, personalities, education, and career development – weekly to your inbox.

Newsletter Signup Image

False

Advertisement

False

Advertisement

Explore More in Ophthalmology

Dive deeper into the world of Ophthalmology. Explore the latest articles, case studies, expert insights, and groundbreaking research.

False

Advertisement
The Ophthalmologist
Subscribe

About

  • About Us
  • Work at Conexiant Europe
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 Texere Publishing Limited (trading as Conexiant), with registered number 08113419 whose registered office is at Booths No. 1, Booths Park, Chelford Road, Knutsford, England, WA16 8GS.

Disclaimer

The Ophthalmologist website is intended solely for the eyes of healthcare professionals. Please confirm below: