ABSTRACT
Purpose: To assess the rapid antigen test (RAT) against the gold standard reverse transcription?polymerase chain reaction (RT?PCR) to screen COVID?19 infection in asymptomatic patients undergoing ophthalmic procedures. Methods: This was a retrospective hospital?based study. Point?of?care (PoC) RAT was performed using nasopharyngeal swab, while RT?PCR for SARS?CoV?2 viral RNA was performed using both nasopharyngeal and throat swabs. Results: A total of 629 patients were tested for SARS?CoV?2 by using both RAT and RT?PCR. Only one patient had tested positive for SARS?CoV?2 with both RAT and RT?PCR, while two patients had tested positive with RT?PCR after an initial negative RAT. The positivity rate for RAT was 0.15% (1/629), and that for RT?PCR was 0.47%. Percent agreement or proportion of agreement observed between the two tests was 99.68%, while Cohen’s kappa coefficient value was 0.49. The sensitivity of RAT in comparison to RT?PCR was 33.33%, specificity was 100%, positive predictive value was 100%, and negative predictive value was 99.68%. Conclusion: The sensitivity and Cohen’s kappa coefficient in our study were low but that can be attributed to the overall low positivity rates with both RAT and RT?PCR. However, percent agreement observed between the two tests was very high. Therefore, we recommend initial screening of all the patients for COVID?19 symptoms followed by RAT before performing any ophthalmic surgical procedure to ensure the safety of the health care professionals as well as the patients.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: The International Council of Ophthalmology?Small Incision Cataract Surgery (ICO?SICS) rubric is a tool to grade SICS steps from novice to competent. The study aimed to evaluate the progress of residents’ surgical skills by using the ICO?SICS rubric and the perceptions of residents and faculties about its use. Methods: This prospective educational interventional study, done in the Ophthalmology department between September 2019 and February?2020 included 14 residents and five faculties. Faculties scored residents’ SICS by ICO?SICS?rubric (four sessions/resident) and helped them identify three steps as “area of focus” to work upon. Feedback was taken using a semi?structured pretested questionnaire. Focus group discussion was done for residents. Data were entered in MS Excel and analyzed using SPSS. Perception analysis presented as percentage of written responses. Results: Step?wise rubric score showed improvement for initial SICS steps and wound closure (P < 0.05). Critical surgical steps and scores for three areas of focus steps showed no statistically significant improvement. Three steps as an area of focus changed partly for 11 residents and completely for three residents at the end of 6 months. Perception analysis of faculty and residents showed that the ICO?SICS rubric is a good tool to record surgical performance, identify steps needing improvement and provide structured feedback hence opined to continue it. Residents considered it as an effective learning and assessment tool. Conclusion: ICO?SICS rubric is a good teaching tool and helps to assess the progress of surgical skills. Identification of areas of poor performance and feedback given motivates them to focus on those areas leading to continuous professional development, resulting in competent surgeons performing SICS surgery independently at the end of the residency
ABSTRACT
Neuroophthalmic manifestations are very rare in corona virus disease?19 (COVID?19) infection. Only few reports have been published till date describing COVID?19?associated neuroophthalmic manifestations. We, hereby, present a series of three cases who developed optic neuritis during the recovery period from COVID?19 infection. Among the three patients, demyelinating lesions were identified in two cases, while another case was associated with serum antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. All three patients received intravenous methylprednisolone followed by oral steroids according to the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trail ptotocol. Vision recovery was noted in all three patients, which was maintained at 2 months of the last follow up visit