Page 120 - July-August 2020

COVID 19 GUIDELINES

FOR OPTOMETRY AND OPTICAL

SERVICES POST LOCKDOWN

T he COVID‑19 pandemic optometry and optical practices PRACTICE GUIDELINES

within India, and shall add value
has caused nationwide
FOR OPTICAL STORES AND
lockdowns and governments
across the globe are working to the current ophthalmology OPTOMETRY PRACTICES POST
guidelines released by the All India
LOCKDOWN
on self‑quarantine, contact Ophthalmology society, as most
tracing, mapping containment eye care practices encompass the STAFF HEALTH AND WELFARE
zones, and other measures to optometry team as part of the No staff members should have
curtail the spread of the disease. workforce. fever or any other symptoms
The government of India has of COVID‑19 infection. The
announced unlock 1.0 in most METHODS management must ensure that
states, as of, 1 June, 2020 and The OCI guidelines developed they have NOT visited any areas
will be considering stepwise during the lockdown was used as demarcated as containment zones
relaxation in certain areas that the base document to modify after or met any COVID‑19 positive
are labelled as containment or further consensus and feedback. individual. Aarogya setu application
hot zones. Optometry Council All modifications were done with developed by the Government
of India (OCI) in this regard the prime objective of prioritising of India should be used daily and
issued guidelines during the first patient and practitioner safety. the management should procure
week of May 2020 to optical Two experts from each of the a self‑declaration form signed by
and optometry practices. These following organizations: Indian each of the staff members. [2]
guidelines were circulated Optometric Association (IOA),
to 13 optical and optometry Indian Optometry Federation COMMUTE TO WORK
associations who endorsed the (IOF), Association of Schools The staff should be advised
document. However, with opening and Colleges of Optometry to avoid public transport to the
up of practices and the evolving (ASCO) and experts from the maximum extent possible. If it is
learning, the guidelines had field of spectacle dispensing, unavoidable, they should be advised
to be modified with changing contact lenses, comprehensive to sit alone and keep windows open
situations and new normalcy. It eye examination, low vision and during travel. They must maintain
is also important to constantly binocular vision were sent the base social distancing and wear a mask
update these guidelines as the document and requested to modify throughout. Hands must be washed
natural history of the disease the document based on current with soap and water before wearing
is better understood. This is evidence and clinical experience. the mask. They must be trained
an attempt to provide practice The base document was also to wear the mask appropriately
guidelines to optical stores and sent to 13 optical and optometry leaving no gaps and covering the
optometry practices based on associations that endorsed it and nose and the mouth fully. All of
recommendations from expert their comments were collated. them should be advised to avoid
groups from across India. This Disagreements within the group carrying bags, wearing watches and
document will serve specifically to were resolved through discussions. bangles as they can get infected.

| JULY-AUG 2020 | 116 OCI GUIDELINES