Page 129 - July-August 2020

obtained over the phone WITH THE INFORMATION system can be cleaned with
or through e-mail before THAT WE HAVE AS liquid soap and water after the
scheduling an appointment for OF TODAY, AND trial is done
low vision assessment FOLLOWING ALL THE • For magnifiers with the

b. When a patient presents in the RECOMMENDED multiple-lens system such
clinic, only those clinical tests GUIDELINES, CONTACT as telescopes, illuminated
that are must for planning the LENSES, WHICH magnifiers, and electronic
management, for example, ARE ONE OF THE magnifiers, the handle of a
high-contrast distance visual PREFERRED MODES OF magnifier and other parts that
acuity, binocular near visual VISION CORRECTION, may have come in contact with
acuity should be performed CAN BE SAFELY the patient should be disinfected

c. To minimise the duration of WORN BY PATIENTS using alcohol wipe in between
training in the use of assistive AND CLINICS TOO the patients. However, the
devices or skill training, consider CAN PROACTIVELY clinician should be careful not
providing instructional videos, PRESCRIBE LENSES to touch the lens surface with
written instructions, and WITHOUT MUCH FEAR alcohol wipes
follow-up using tele-consultation OF CORONA INFECTION • Optical devices with
multiple-lens system, such as
d. Tele-consultation can be telescopes can be disinfected
considered in those patients range of multiple options in the by keeping them in the UV-C
where the vision is stable, required magnification range lamp chamber. However, the
that may best suit the patient’s
clinical low vision examination rehabilitation goal long-term effects of exposure
was done within 1 year, and to UVC radiation on low vision
the patient does not report any v. Segregate those devices that devices are unknown.
new functional limitations. To were used for trial and keep
minimise the need for cleaning them in a separate tray with INSTRUMENT CARE
and disinfecting the assessment a red colour label (indicating– a. Use 70% alcohol-based solution
tools and devices, the following devices to be disinfected and
strategies can be considered: not to use). After cleaning and to disinfect probes, trial frames,
disinfecting only, devices should and trial lenses after each
i. Before commencing the low be replaced in the inventory. use. Body of equipment to be
vision assessment and trial of cleaned with 70% isopropyl
assistive devices, examiner and DISINFECTING ASSESSMENT TOOLS alcohol
patient both should sanitize AND ASSISTIVE DEVICES:
their hands with alcohol-based • First check the user’s manual b. Lensometer: Wipe with 70%
sanitizer and manufacturer’s guidelines. isopropyl alcohol

ii. For visual acuity assessment, In case user’s manual is not c. Probes: Clean with 70%
a computerised logMAR visual provided by the manufacturer, isopropyl alcohol swab and air
acuity assessment system such contact them for disinfection dry for 30 seconds
as COMPlog would be preferable guidelines d. TonoPen/Icare tonometer:
considering the ease to clean • Some of the logMAR distance Change tip cover or magnetic tip
and disinfect the display as and near vision charts that for every patient
compared to standard logMAR are printed on acrylic sheet, e. Applanation tonometer (AT): for
chart polyvinyl chloride foam sheet, or AT head.
iii. Examiner should hold the plastic sheet can be cleaned with i. Use sodium hypochlorite (1 ml
near vision chart with gloved liquid soap and water of sodium hypochlorite and 9
hands • Filters (absorptive lenses), ml of distil water mix), allow the

iv. To reduce the contact with spectacle magnifiers, non- prism to sterilise before the start
multiple devices, select a couple illuminated hand magnifiers, and of the clinic and end of the day,
of assistive devices from the stand magnifiers with single-lens dip the prism for 3 to 4 min, and

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