COVID-19 and Eye Care: What You Should Know

Your child broke their glasses and needs a new pair. Maybe your vision has lost some of its sharpness from more screen time. You know handling these problems is a priority, but you’re worried that venturing out to an eye care clinic could expose you to COVID-19.

At Benjamin Optical, our eye care experts want nothing more than to provide you with the highest quality eye and vision care. To do that, we’re expanding our roles to maintain a safe environment for you, your loved ones, and our staff.

This guide goes over what you need to know about eye care and COVID-19.

Can COVID-19 affect your eyes?

The coronavirus spreads through respiratory droplets. If someone has the virus they can expel droplets onto your face or onto surfaces when they sneeze, cough, or talk. 

While it’s more likely for the virus to enter your body through your nose or mouth, it can enter through your eyes too. Touching a surface that contains the virus and then rubbing your eyes can also lead to infection.

COVID-19 rarely causes eye symptoms. There are some cases where COVID-19 patients develop pink eye (conjunctivitis), but this rarely happens. As of now, eye symptoms caused by COVID-19 are mild and haven’t caused any damage to sight or overall eye health.

The coronavirus can also affect your eyes indirectly. COVID-19 forced many Americans to work from home, and it’s keeping children out of school. 

As a result, screen time for both adults and children has spiked. Too much screen time can lead to headaches and cause blurred vision, dry eyes, and eye irritation.

Eye care during the COVID-19 outbreak

Eye care is a critical part of your overall health and wellbeing. However, some patients may postpone their appointments or eye exams out of fear of contracting the virus. This isn’t always an option for patients who require ongoing care, like those with macular degeneration.

At Benjamin Optical, we’re dedicated to providing top-quality eye care for our patients. And keeping you, your loved ones, and our staff safe is our biggest priority. Here’s what you can expect when you seek eye care from our team during the coronavirus pandemic:

Updates to office safety protocols

Our office continues to stay informed about the coronavirus, and we’re carefully maintaining and staying up-to-date with all of the safety protocols recommended by the CDC. Some of these precautions include:

• Outfitting our doctors and staff with the right PPE (personal protective equipment)
• Maintaining social distancing in waiting areas
• Thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing all equipment (including eyewear), exam rooms, and waiting areas in between patients
• Asking patients to wait in their vehicle when the common area is at capacity

If you experience symptoms of COVID-19, which includes a cough, shortness of breath, or a fever, we ask that you please stay home and contact your healthcare provider. A member of our staff can help address your needs and concerns over the phone.

Telehealth exams

Not every eye symptom requires you to jump in your car and venture out, where you can potentially be exposed to the coronavirus. That’s why Benjamin Optical is happy to announce that, in the coming weeks, we’re providing telehealth appointments for our patients.

If you experience new eye symptoms, a telehealth visit gives you the chance to discuss them with your Benjamin Optical provider. From there, they can determine if you need to visit us for an eye exam, or if your symptoms require urgent care.

Learn more about eye care and COVID-19

Keeping your eyes healthy and vision sharp is still a priority. Whether you need new glasses, injections for macular degeneration, or it’s time for your routine eye exam, Benjamin Optical is here for you.

You can expect high-quality eye care in a clean, safe, and caring environment. To learn more about the safety precautions we’re taking during the COVID-19 pandemic, call Benjamin Optical today or book your appointment online.