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Coronavirus and Safe Eyes

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The Coronavirus crisis has affected the lives of everyone around the world. Knowing more about the infection can protect you, your family, and everyone around you. Please follow all current instructions from the CDC as this is the best way to protect everyone. While symptoms of coronavirus infection include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, people can be infected with the virus, have no symptoms, and possibly be spreading the virus onto those around them.

Interestingly, and tragically, the first person to sound the call on the Coronavirus outbreak in China was Dr. Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist, exercising his skills as a true medical doctor. He made the connection observing multiple patients hospitalized with similar symptoms and was silenced by the police after warning colleagues of the infection. He contracted the disease, presumably from a patient, and died in the hospital at age 34.

 

Facts about Coronavirus and Your Eyes

  • You can get the coronavirus infection through your eyes!  Don’t touch your face – Including YOUR EYES!  People with the infection spread the virus in droplets when they cough, sneeze, talk, and possibly when they breathe.  The virus can live on surfaces and then pass to your hands. Don’t touch your face or EYES! Use hand sanitizer or wash your hands frequently!

  • Coronavirus infection can cause conjunctivitis (pink eye) but the effect on the eyes is usually not serious.  If you have red eyes but are otherwise completely well, it is far more likely that you have some other reasons such as allergy or other viral or bacterial infection than coronavirus.  It is possible though, for conjunctivitis (pink eye) to be the first or only sign of coronavirus. Call your ophthalmologist for their instructions.   

  • People who wear contact lenses tend to touch their eyes more frequently, so be especially careful about keeping your hands clean.  Wearing glasses might also provide some protection from infection by shielding the eyes. 

  • If you have to touch your eyes for an itch, because of your contacts, or to put in drops – WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE AND AFTER!  

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“On the evening of March 14, New York City went into lockdown mode. All non-essential businesses were mandated to close. All non-essential medical services were also suspended. COVID-19 ravaged the city more quickly than any of us anticipated.”

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Eye Care and Coronavirus Precautions

Your visit to your ophthalmologist’s or optometrist’s office should be different now with safety precautions made to ensure everyone’s health and safety. Patients and staff should all be screened for symptoms and the equipment has been modified to reduce the possible spread of infection. Patients, staff, and doctors in medical offices continue to wear masks.

 With offices open and safe now, the use of TELEMEDICINE is not as necessary as it was at the height of the crisis, but some conditions may still be followed with its use.  Your ophthalmologist or optometrist’s office can provide you with instructions if this would be right for your condition.  A very important part of a telemedicine visit is measuring your vision.  

Urgent conditions where eye care should not be delayed!

  • Macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy - Screening and follow-up examinations and treatments with injections into the eye. With the safety measures in place, you should feel safe and absolutely should get the care that you need!

  • New Symptoms - Sudden, new changes in vision including blurred vision, flashes, new floaters, dark areas or loss of vision, double vision.

  • Symptoms of eye pain, red eye, halos around lights.

  • Foreign bodies and trauma.

You should contact an ophthalmologist’s office for directions first.  AVOID GOING TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, unless directed.