CORONAVIRUS FAQS

As healthcare professionals, we are already implementing extremely high standards of hygiene but given the current conditions, we are being extra vigilant.

We are following recommendations from the Association of Optometrists and this means that if we are required to carry out an urgent sight-test we will be wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment which may include gloves, apron, goggles and face mask.

We will however avoid seeing anyone with cold or flu symptoms, and ask for them to be rebooked when they are better. The main actions that we are undertaking if seeing patients is to use:

• Scrupulous hand hygiene
• Respiratory etiquette, and
• Good disinfection practice including cleaning hard surfaces.

We are also following general guidelines set out by the World Health Organisation to prevent infection spread. This includes regular hand washing with soap and water or alcohol-based disinfectants, covering the mouth and nose with a bent elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing and maintaining at least a three-foot distance between ourselves and anyone showing signs of a respiratory illness such as coughing or sneezing. And, avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth as hands can transfer the virus to these areas.

During this time of limited but rapidly expanding information, we, as eyecare providers need to stay highly vigilant to recognise early manifestation of COVID-19, including the consideration of viral conjunctivitis as a possible early presentation of the disease.

Ultimately, we are taking sensible precautions to keep all people safe.

We will review urgent requests for sight tests on an individual basis and offer next steps by discretion. At present, we are pro-actively encouraging the reduction of non-urgent sight tests as the risk of viral transmission may outweigh the benefits.

We would ask that you call NHS 111 on their behalf. They will direct you to a regional centre that can provide the eye care, in an environment equipped to manage the infection control risks.

Please call us. We will still only be a call away and will do whatever we can to help fix or replace spectacles as quickly as possible.

At present we are still delivering outstanding spectacles. Please contact the office if you are waiting.

For the most up-to-date information and FAQs from the World Health Organisation, click here: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses.