José L. Güell MD, PhD Spain is now in the middle of a  severe coronavirus outbreak. The virus can be found in all regions of the country, particularly in Madrid and Barcelona. One-fifth of the 50 million population is over the age of 65 and thus at increased risk of COVID-19. José L. Güell MD, […]

The virus is so contagious that for effective protection you need a full body suit covering you from head to toe and a mask though which you may exhale but you cannot intake particles.

The COVID-19 virus can survive as an aerosol suspended in the air and personal protection equipment (PPE) for healthcare professionals needs to protect all vulnerable surfaces on their body from infection, including mouth nose and eyes,, according to a recent report from China (Yu et al, Chinese Journal of Ophthalmology, 2020; DOI: 10.3760 / cma.j.cn112142-20200313-00181). […]

Global health products giant Johnson & Johnson have announced a collaboration with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), an agency of the USA government, to develop a vaccine for COVID-19, with a goal of making one billion doses available on an emergency basis by early 2021. If successful, the $1 billion project will […]

Austrian ophthalmologists primed to tackle COVID-19 crisis

Thomas Kohnen MD, PhD, FEBO spoke with EuroTimes editor Sean Henahan, giving us an update on the coronavirus situation in Germany. Prof Kohnen is professor and chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, He is editor of the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery and former president of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG) and former […]

Prof Marc Labetoulle and Dr Antoine Rousseau have prepared recommendations on “Managing medical conditions of the ocular surface during the COVID-19 epidemic”.

Dear Colleagues As we begin another week of the COVID – 19 challenge we bring you news on some of the work that is being done around the world to develop treatment for and vaccines to prevent this most awful disease. It is encouraging to know that so many different scientists, universities and commercial groups […]

Could vaccines against tuberculosis (TB) also help protect against the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2? While the long-existing TB BCG vaccine does not directly protect against this coronavirus, it provides a boost to the immune system, and has been shown to provide some protection against respiratory infections such as influenza in previous studies, which may lead to […]

A  new study involving 17 COVID-19 patients failed to detect the presence of the virus in a study conducted Singapore, suggesting a low risk of ocular transmission of the virus https://www.aaojournal.org/article/S0161-6420(20)30311-0/fulltext The patients in the study had positive for COVID-19 by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of nasopharyngeal samples in a clinical diagnostic laboratory. […]

  While the long existing TB BCG vaccine does not directly protect against this coronavirus, it provides a boost to the immune system, and has been shown to provide some protection against respiratory infections such as influenza in previous studies, which may lead to improved protection against developing Covid-19 and a milder infection. That is […]

Vaccine could immunise patients not previously exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus

New York-based global pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc is teaming up with BioNTech to rapidly develop the Mainz, Germany-based firm’s BNT162, a messenger RNA-based potential vaccine for COVID-19. The compound is expected to enter clinical testing by the end of April 2020, according to the two companies. If successful, it would prevent contraction of COVID-19 in […]

Healthcare professionals need eye protection to prevent transmission of COVID-19 to or from patients

After a virtual meeting  global regulators, including the European Medicines Agency, the USA Food and Drug Administration and 18 other agencies, have published a report outlining their consensus data requirements for conducting Phase I clinical studies of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The report consensus is that moving to first-in-human trials quickly is imperative in the […]

Bruce Allan MD Bruce Allan MD, is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, England. In a Q&A with EuroTimes, Dr Allan talked about how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting patient care, ophthalmology research and training in the UK. Maintaining a positive outlook, he shared ideas about the opportunities that the crisis is […]

Bruce Allan MD Bruce Allan MD, is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, England. In a Q&A with EuroTimes, Dr Allan talked about how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting patient care, ophthalmology research and training in the UK. Maintaining a positive outlook, he shared ideas about the opportunities that the crisis is […]

Dear Colleagues Today we talk to our friends and ESCRS Board members in the United Kingdom. The UK has a very large population and a very well-known healthcare system. Our colleagues have shared with us the measures that the NHS is taking to deal with this crisis. Our colleague, Paul Rosen, chairman of the board […]

Paul Rosen FRCS FRCOphth is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at the Oxford Eye Hospital and Chairman of the Trustees of ESCRS and a former President of ESCRS. Speaking to EuroTimes, Dr Rosen stressed the need for adaptability and new working practices and said residents had the opportunity for a new and very different form of […]

A study from Imperial College London, UK, has said that the only way to suppress the spread of COVID-19 is to enforce social distancing for the entire population, isolate all cases, demand quarantines of entire households where anyone is sick and close all schools and universities for 12-to-18 months, until a vaccine is available. In […]

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists in the UK is monitoring closely the information on COVID-19 from the UK government, the NHS and Public Health England.Please note that these are local guidelines and ophthalmologists should contact their national societies for guidance. Among the recommendations in the guidance document are: *Before arrival in clinic ophthalmologists should work […]

Michael Burdon MD FRCS In a EuroTimes interview, RCOphth President, Michael Burdon MD FRCS, provides his insights into COVID-19’s impact on ophthalmology in the UK. “UK ophthalmologists around the country are preparing themselves for the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in line with the preparation being put in action by the NHS in general. […]

Philip Bloom Philip Bloom is President of the UK & Ireland Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (UKISCRS), Chair of the International Glaucoma Association (IGA) and trustee and board member of the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) and has been involved in the planning to deal with the impact and fallout of the COVID-19 crisis. […]

EU Steering Group set up to provide strategic leadership

Dear Colleagues As we progress further into this crisis, we realise more and more how important it is to keep our communications open and continue to share our ideas and experiences. I see today that our American colleagues have initiated the protocols that most of our members in Europe are following i.e. to cancel all […]

Guy Sallet MD, FEBO Social and medical care has changed dramatically in Belgium. Dr Guy Sallet describes how ophthalmic practice changed over the course of one week. Dr Sallet is Medical Director, Eye Institute Aalst, Belgium. March 14: Lockdown of bars and restaurants, schools and universities March 16 : All elective procedures and non-urgent consultations […]

Moderna and USA NIAID launch Phase 1 trial of first COVID-19 vaccine

Ophthalmologists are ready and waiting to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic

Hospitals respond to pandemic crisis

 The pandemic has had an effect on patients and staff alike

Italian ophthalmologists say the situation in their country is a disaster but they must show courage. Colin Kerr and Sean Henahan report.

These are worrying and unique times for the medical community and all those in the front lines of battling the COVID-19 threat. It is our job to protect our loved ones, our colleagues and our patients.