Social distancing isn’t an option in the exam lane. Because optometric exams take place in close proximity, optometry practices have spent close to a year reworking their safety and disinfection procedures to ensure patient and staff safety.

 

 

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“How we think about positioning ourselves to look at the patient has changed,” says Amanda Nanasy, O.D., of The Eye Center of Pembroke Pines, in Pembroke Pines, Fla. “Sometimes, we sit below the patient looking up. Now, I’m thinking about particles that may escape the mask, so I’m positioning patients differently.”

BEYOND MASKS

In addition to masks, phoropter breath shields, such as Visible Bliss (ABB Optical), are options to help protect the provider from breath contaminants. “They’ve been really helpful,” says Dr. Nanasy, “especially with patients who tend to fog up the phoropter if their mask doesn’t fit properly.”

The shield offers another benefit: “It helps ensure that we get great results during the refraction,” she continues. “If patients see the phoropter fogging up, they question the reliability of the exam results. When we use the shield, they are really impressed.”

HEIGHTENING SAFETY

While patients may not observe many of the office’s disinfection procedures, “find ways to reassure your patients that they are going to have a clean experience,” recommends Ian G. Whipple, O.D., owner of Vision Source of Farr West, in Farr West, Utah.

Larry Golson, O.D., owner of Envision Eyecare in Asheville, NC. agrees: “One of the most important things is that the patient is informed that the room is clean as they walk in,” he emphasizes.

Visible hand washing is another idea: “We always wash hands in front of the patient,” notes Dr. Golson. But handwashing is just one step. “When I do something that involves touching the patient’s face, I also sanitize my hands again, and ask before I touch their face,” he says. Dr. Whipple also goes the extra mile: “We spray our hands with hypochloric acid after we’ve washed. We make sure the patient sees,” he says. OM