Navigating the Impact of COVID-19 on Ophthalmology: Lessons Learned and Future Directions for Enhanced Eye Care – A Narrative Review

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic shifted the dynamics of our healthcare system with very novel and lasting innovations. Ophthalmology, the branch that first brought the virus into the picture, saw major trend-setting in triaging, examination techniques, and telemedicine consultations, which proved to be of great help even after the pandemic. The pandemic acted like a trigger, propelling the medical fraternity into a frenzy of discoveries. Significant shifts were seen in eye banking, handling ocular emergencies, and using non-invasive techniques for ocular diagnosis. These changes were so scattered in all aspects of the speciality that a significant review to focus on the outcomes of the pandemic became essential. It is imperative to jot down these key features, highlighting their lasting effect on how we now practise ophthalmology.