Amid the coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic, eye care patients are advised to only see their ophthalmologists, optometrists, and eye care team for “urgent or emergent problems,” according to Prevent Blindness. In fact, you may have already experienced changes in how your eye doctor visits are being handled. If you haven’t been to the doctor yet, here’s what glaucoma patients can expect during the COVID-19 pandemic when it comes to doctor appointments and office safety protocols.*

What types of appointments receive priority?

For the health and safety of both patients and staff, in-office visits are for new or urgent issues only until further notice. Urgent issues are those that require prompt medical attention but don’t require a visit to the emergency room (ER).

These issues, which can result in acute vision loss if not treated immediately, include:

• eye injury,
• retinal detachment, and
• an angle-closure glaucoma attack.

If you’re not sure whether a sudden change in your vision or eye health is an emergency, contact your eye care provider for guidance.

You should also call your eye doctor if:

• You have macular degeneration, diabetes-related retinopathy, or similar eye disease and receive regular eye injections.
• You receive vision treatments that are administered at your eye doctor’s office.
• You experience sudden vision loss or notice changes, including blurry vision, wavy vision, or blank spots, new floaters, or flashes of light in your field of vision, 
• You experience eye pain, headaches, red-eye, nausea, and/or vomiting.

What types of appointments will be postponed?

Appointments that are likely to be postponed and rescheduled include:

• routine patient visits, such as annual eye exams (with or without dilation), glasses fittings, and general eye health check-ups, as well as
• non-urgent eye surgeries and procedures, such as cataract surgery.

What should I do about a previously scheduled visit?

For your safety and that of the office staff and other patients, it’s advisable to do the following before you attend a scheduled doctor appointment:

• Call the doctor’s office to confirm that your appointment has not been canceled.
• Let the office know if you have a fever, cough, or any other symptoms of COVID-19, as well as if you’ve been in direct contact with someone who has symptoms or has tested positive.
• Ask about the office’s safety protocols, so you can go prepared. 

What in-office safety protocols can I expect?

While some protocols may differ between medical offices, the following are widely observed: 

• You may be required to wear a face mask, and you will see staff wearing them, too.
• You may be asked to wait outside or in your car instead of the waiting room. 
• Staff may take your temperature and ask you to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.
• Staff may wipe down counters, pens, tablets, and other items you’ve touched.
• Your doctor may wear a special face shield or a mask with protective goggles.

What other precautions should I take?

Here are some other recommended precautions for you to take, both at the doctor and at home:

• If you need to cough or sneeze, cover your face with the crook of your arm or a tissue. Wash your hands (and arm) with soap and water right away. If this occurs during an eye exam, move and turn away from the exam equipment first.

• Wear your glasses. Aside from correcting and protecting your vision, eyeglasses and sunglasses can offer some eye protection against COVID-infected droplets. Consider wearing safety goggles if you’re caring for a sick or exposed person.

• Refill prescriptions before they are depleted, and stock up on eye medicines as able. Some insurers will approve up to a three-month supply during natural disasters.
• Avoid rubbing or touching your eyes. If you have to touch your eyes, make sure to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after you touch your eyes.

It’s important to continue caring for your eyes and keeping your eye health in mind. Following the simple guidelines above can help protect both your overall health and the health and safety of others.

Additional information on eye care and COVID-19

As eye care providers begin to open up across the U.S., Prevent Blindness suggests the following sources for up-to-date information on eye health and the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)
• American Optometric Association (AOA)

Before you make or have an appointment, your eye care providers will give you any updated guidelines about how to proceed. If you have any questions or concerns about how your appointment will be handled, it’s encouraged to reach out via phone or email to your doctor’s office.

*Roberts, D. (2020, May 16). “Important Message to Eye Care Patients Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Living with Low Vision by Prevent Blindness.