COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus disease that is affecting humans for the first time, discovered in China in 2019. It has been declared a pandemic by WHO.
The symptoms mimic common cold or flu. It manifests in the eye as viral conjunctivitis. The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily through the following:
- Inhalation of droplets expelled from infected persons respiratory tract
- Contact with patient’s respiratory secretions
- Contact with secretions on the hands of patients
- Contact with contaminated surfaces and equipment.
As primary eye care practitioners, patients will present to our clinics for their eye health and due to the peculiar nature of optometry practice, it becomes necessary that we set some standards to reduce contact with the patients in the eye clinics/facilities.