Dear Bob:
I have had a few worried text messages from patients. Other members of yours I am sure are worried about their transplants being affected by COVID-19 and if their transplants affect their risk for COVID-19.
Patients with corneal transplants should take the same actions recommended by the CDC to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Their corneal transplants should not increase their risk for contracting COVID-19. If they are taking eye drops, they should practice routine hand hygiene as detailed by the CDC before and after any contact with their face, including administering eye drops. Patients’ corneal transplants should not be jeopardized by COVID-19, either.
As a demographic group, many patients with transplants fall into higher risk categories should they contract COVID-19.
If patients are well and have not been having any problems with their corneal transplant(s) recently, I recommend not going into the eye doctor’s office “just to make sure” and instead discussing their concerns with their doctor over the phone on a non-urgent basis.
If patients have a scheduled follow-up in the next few weeks, I recommend reevaluating with their doctor’s office over the phone whether or not they should keep that appointment; this is a matter to be decided by the providing doctor and patient based on the prevailing conditions, which will vary significantly between locales.
If patients are having any concerns about their transplant(s) because of actual symptoms, not just worry, they should also call their doctor to discuss, as they would normally.
These recommendations are mine. They are in line with the overall recommendations in all of medicine. I have heard of no recommendations from the corneal surgeon community to do otherwise, but if I do I will let you know.