COVID-19 and Your Eye Care

COVID-19 and Your Eye Care
If you are visiting your ophthalmologist’s office,

we understand you may feel nervous about going
to your appointment during the coronavirus
pandemic (COVID-19). Rest assured that
ophthalmologists, like all medical professionals,
follow strict guidelines for cleaning and
disinfecting.
New procedures for routine and

urgent eye care
Limiting close physical contact among people is
key to helping reduce the spread of the
coronavirus. Symptoms of coronavirus—such as
fever, cough and shortness of breath—can appear
two to 14 days after a person is exposed. People
with severe infections can develop pneumonia or
other complications, which can be
life-threatening.
Although almost all eye care clinics have gone

back to in-person appointments, some may
continue to offer “virtual” telemedicine visits over
the phone or through video chat on a computer
or smartphone for patients who are high risk or
concerned about coming in person for
appointments.
For in-person appointments, here are ways your • The clinic may ask you to wait outside, or in
ophthalmologist will protect patient health in the your car, instead of in the normal waiting
office or clinic setting during COVID-19. room. This is to protect you, the other
patients, and the office staff from possible
Expect changes to eye exams and procedures: virus exposure in crowded waiting areas.
• You should wear a mask to your appointment. • The clinic has likely made changes to more
If you do not have a mask, the eye clinic may thoroughly clean rooms between patients,
provide one for you. which could change your typical visit
experience or cause some delays.
2021–2022 1 of 4
• The clinic is likely restricting the number of • If you need to cough or sneeze during your
people that enter. If you do not need exam, move back from the slit-lamp
someone there with you, please do not bring microscope machine. Bury your face in the
your driver or companion inside the office to crook of your arm or cover your face with a
your appointment. tissue. Wash your hands with soap and water
right away.
• Staff may check your temperature to make
sure you do not have a fever or may ask you Ophthalmologists are always available for eye
questions about your risk of exposure to emergencies.
COVID before you can enter.
Remember that ophthalmologists are always
• Your eye doctor may use a special plastic available to treat urgent/emergency eye issues,
breath shield on the slit-lamp machine they deliver eye injections and provide critical care.
use to look into your eyes. They will wear a
mask, and may wear gloves and goggles or a Call your ophthalmologist or other medical doctor
plastic shield over their eyes. as soon as possible in the following situations:
• Your doctor may ask you to wait to speak • You have macular degeneration or diabetic
until after your eye exam is complete. Then retinopathy and get regular eye injections
they can talk with you and answer questions
when they can be a safe distance from you. • You notice changes in your vision (like blurry,
wavy or blank spots in your field of vision)
You will be asked to follow special guidelines
for safety. • You have an eye injury, even if it seems minor
• If you have a cough or a fever, or have been • You notice new floaters or flashes in your
in close contact with someone who has these vision
symptoms, you must call your doctor’s office
ahead of time and let them know. If your visit • You suddenly lose some vision
is not an emergency, you may need to
reschedule your appointment. • You have a red eye or eye pain, especially if it
is accompanied by headache, nausea or
• If you arrive sick, your doctor may ask you to vomiting, or a lot of pus-like discharge
go home. If you have an eye problem that
must be seen right away, you will be asked to
wait in a special room away from other
patients. The clinic staff and your
ophthalmologist may wear additional
protective equipment, such as a gown and
gloves.
©2021 American Academy of Ophthalmology

Content last reviewed 03/21
2 of 4
you tend to touch your eyes a lot when your

How can coronavirus affect your contacts are in. Substituting glasses for lenses
eyes? can reduce eye irritation, and they may be a
Coronavirus can spread through the eyes—just as barrier that reminds you not to touch your eye.
it does through the mouth or nose. When When you wear contacts, be sure to clean and
someone who has coronavirus coughs, sneezes, or disinfect them exactly as your eye doctor
talks, virus particles can spray from their mouth recommends.
or nose onto your face. You are likely to breathe
these tiny droplets in through your mouth or Wearing glasses may add a layer of protection.
nose. But the droplets can also enter your body Corrective glasses or sunglasses can shield your
through your eyes. You can also become infected eyes from infected respiratory droplets. But keep
by touching your eyes after touching something in mind that they don’t provide 100% security.
that has the virus on it. The virus can still reach your eyes from the open
sides, tops and bottoms of your glasses. For
It might be possible for coronavirus to cause a better protection, you must use safety goggles if
pink eye infection (conjunctivitis), but this is rare. you’re caring for a sick or potentially exposed
If you have pink eye, don’t panic. Simply call your person.
ophthalmologist to let them know and follow their
instructions for care. Keep in mind that whether Stock up on eye medicine prescriptions if you
pink eye is caused by a virus or bacteria, it can can.
spread if someone touches that sticky or runny If your insurance allows you to get more than one
discharge from the eyes, or touches objects month of necessary eye medicine (like glaucoma
contaminated by the discharge. Wash your hands drops), you should. Some insurers will approve a
and use hand sanitizer often. Do not share towels, 3-month supply of medication in times of natural
cups or utensils with others. disaster. Ask your pharmacist or ophthalmologist
for help if you have trouble getting approval from
your insurance company. As always, request a
refill as soon as you are due. Don’t wait until the
Protecting your eyes and health last minute to contact your pharmacy
Guarding your eyes — as well as your hands,
nose, and mouth — can slow the spread of Avoid rubbing your eyes.
coronavirus. Here are some ways to you can keep It can be hard to break this natural habit, but
your eyes safe and healthy during this coronavirus doing so will lower your risk of infection. If you
outbreak. feel an urge to itch or rub your eye or even to
adjust your glasses, use a tissue instead of your
If you wear contact lenses, take extra care. fingers. Dry eyes can lead to more rubbing, so
Contact lens wearers touch their eyes more than consider adding moisturizing drops to your eye
the average person. Be aware of this fact and routine. If you must touch your eyes for any
make sure you wash your hands well before reason — even to administer eye medicine —
inserting and removing your lenses, and keep wash your hands first with soap and water for at
your hands away from your eyes at other times. least 20 seconds. Then wash them again after
Consider wearing glasses more often, especially if touching your eyes.

3 of 4
Use common sense to stay

healthy.
Wash your hands a lot. Follow good contact lens
hygiene. And avoid touching or rubbing your
nose, mouth and eyes.
If you have any questions about your eyes or

your vision, be sure to ask your ophthalmologist.
Get more information about eye health from

EyeSmart—provided by the American Academy
of Ophthalmology—at aao.org/eyesmart.
COMPLIMENTS OF:

4 of 4

COVID-19 and Your Eye Care

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

COVID-19 and Your Eye Care

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

COVID-19 and Your Eye Care

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

COVID-19 and Your Eye Care

If you are visiting your ophthalmologist’s office,

New procedures for routine and

Although almost all eye care clinics have gone

©2021 American Academy of Ophthalmology

you tend to touch your eyes a lot when your

©2021 American Academy of Ophthalmology

Use common sense to stay

If you have any questions about your eyes or

Get more information about eye health from

©2021 American Academy of Ophthalmology

You might also like