Would you risk getting COVID-19 or risk going blind? This is the choice that my elderly patients have to make these days.
For patients with chronic eye diseases such as wet macular degeneration, monthly treatments at my office are the only things preventing them from going blind. But anytime these senior citizens step outside their homes and interact with others, they risk getting COVID-19. This is still true now, even though the curve is starting to flatten in the NY Metro region.
Unfortunately, there is no safe way to do these eye treatments as a home visit. This dilemma has led to many tough telephone calls with my patients. We review the pros/cons for their particular situation. I listen to what worries them the most. I explain that there is no right or wrong decision. They make a choice.
I end the call by putting on a smile, use my best reassuring doctor’s voice, and tell them that everything will be alright. But I worry.
I can’t wait until life gets back to normal...or more normal than this.