AAP Voices Blog

I worry that pediatric ophthalmologists may be on the verge of extinction as a specialty. 

Given the close face-to-face proximity during an eye exam, ophthalmologists are among the highest risk practitioners when you’re talking about risk of infection from respiratory viruses. 

Often, we are literally inches from our patients’ faces. Exams are labor-intensive, in terms of time spent with a child.

Picture repeat contact like this, day after day, when our youngest patients can’t even wear a mask? Imagine leaning over a screaming child trying to put dilating drops in their eyes? They are aerosolizing all over the place. 

Ophthalmology is considered super high risk; pediatric ophthalmology is even more so.

Talking to colleagues, we're nervous and really not sure our practices are going to make it. It's touch and go. 

We’re going to cut back on the volume of patients we see each day and do what we can to make it a safe experience. We’re triaging patients. We’re putting dividers in the waiting room and putting plastic shields on the equipment we use to examine patients to put a barrier between doctor and patient.

I’m discouraged but will try to do whatever I can do to continue treating kids.

There are about 1,100 pediatric ophthalmologists in the U.S. Given the financial and logistical challenges, I’m not sure how many practices will survive the pandemic.

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*The views expressed in this article are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the American Academy of Pediatrics.