Angel Eduardo Gonzalez-Garcia, Yolanda Macias-Rodriguez, Raul E Ruiz-Lozano, Alejandro Rodriguez-Garcia Pan Am J Ophthalmol 2022, 4:19 (20 April 2022) DOI:10.4103/pajo.pajo_124_21
Purpose: The coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic put medical residency programs in a predicament, impacting clinical attention and surgical practice. This study aims to describe the adjustments applied in an ophthalmology residency program to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
Materials and Methods: An observational, comparative, and descriptive study was performed in an ophthalmology residency program to analyze the adaptations and innovations implemented to overcome the medical attention and training restrictions enforced by the sanitary authorities due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2020. The residents' record folders were analyzed yearly for academic, research, clinical, and surgical activities from 2018 to 2020. An online survey was applied to residents for congress attendance, research publications, time spent on classes, lectures, clinical cases, journal club, and surgical videos sessions during the pandemic.
Results: Compared to years 2018 and 2019, during 2020, there was a significant increase in the hours destined per week to academic activities (6.04 vs. 16.42 h, P < 0.001); the monthly hours of journal club sessions (0.5 vs. 3.41 h, P < 0.001); and the number of published articles involving residents (0.4 vs. 2.52, P < 0.001). On the contrary, the hours of outpatient consultation (8 h/day vs. 4 h/day) and the number of cataract surgeries performed per resident decreased (48 vs. 15, P < 0.001) from 2019 to 2020.
Conclusions: Prompt reaction and innovation were required to overcome the educational and training barriers imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. While remote academic activities increased significantly, online patient consultation and surgical simulation were necessary to avoid hindering patient's attention and surgical training.
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Luis F Mejia, Juan C Gil Pan Am J Ophthalmol 2022, 4:18 (20 April 2022) DOI:10.4103/pajo.pajo_5_22
Purpose: To report the results of using human amniotic membrane (AM) as a bandage at the end of pterygium surgery to diminish its uncomfortable postoperative symptoms.
Materials and Methods: Observational, descriptive retrospective study in which patients with bilateral primary nasal pterygia were operated on with a conjunctival-limbal autograft with conventional suturing, one eye receiving an AM bandage at the end of surgery and the other not.
Results: There were 20 eyes of 10 patients, five men, and five women, with a mean age of 28.7 ± 6.4 years; general postoperative symptoms (pain, burning sensation, and tearing) and foreign body sensation were statistically lower in the AM group at the 4th, 8th, and 12th postoperative day (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: AM as a bandage at the end of pterygium surgery reduces the uncomfortable postoperative symptoms typical of such surgery.
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