Update on COVID-19 from Pacific Eye Institute

Download COVID-19 Pandemic Medical Care Consent Form

At Pacific Eye Institute, we continue to work with our physicians and staff to provide a safe environment for visitors. We’re following the latest updates from the CDC and the California Department of Health and, in particular, guidelines from the American Academy of Ophthalmology – as it specifically relates to the concerns most relevant for our patients and care teams. We continue to focus on patient safety in each of our offices. We look forward to caring for you in the safest way possible.

Clinic Update

Pacific Eye Institute has instituted the following procedures to manage all in-office visits:

• Clinic Visits – We are seeing patients in-clinic. Please call to schedule your appointment or request an appointment now.
• Screening – All patients and staff are screened before entry to our clinics. Anyone with a fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19 should reschedule their appointment.
• Masking – To keep our patients safe, all clinic staff will be wearing either surgical or alternative facemasks, as described by the CDC and California Department of Health. To keep our staff safe, patients are encouraged to wear alternative facemasks in the clinic.
• Environment – Surfaces and equipment are disinfected between patients, and our waiting rooms have been arranged to accommodate appropriate social distancing standards.
• Telehealth – As appropriate, we are offering teleophthalmology/virtual visits to patients to connect with their eyecare providers. Please contact us at (800) 345-8789 or CLICK HERE to learn more about telehealth visits.

Surgery Updates

With increased safety protocols, our physicians’ surgical schedules are open as normal.

COVID-19 in Ophthalmology

A recent article published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology noted that several reports suggest that COVID-19 can cause conjunctivitis (commonly known as “pink eye”). Although not as common of a symptom as fever, cough and difficulty breathing, this is something our scheduling team will take into consideration.

More About COVID-19 from the CDC

The virus is known spread mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It also may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Here are a few tips to protect yourself from this respiratory illness:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

Please contact out office if you have any questions related to our COVID-19 protocols.

Sources: www.cdc.gov, www.aao.org