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Update on COVID-19 from Shaaf Eye Center

At Shaaf Eye Center, we continue to work with our physicians and staff to provide a safe environment for visitors. We’re following the latest updates from the CDC and the California Department of Health and, in particular, guidelines from the American Academy of Ophthalmology – as it specifically relates to the concerns most relevant for our patients and care teams. We continue to focus on patient safety in each of our offices. We look forward to caring for you in the safest way possible.

Clinic Update

Shaaf Eye Center has instituted the following procedures to manage all in-office visits:

• Clinic Visits – We are seeing patients in-clinic. Please call to schedule your appointment or request an appointment now.
• Screening – Patients and staff should self-screen before entry to our clinics. Anyone with a fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19 should reschedule their appointment.
• Masking – facemasks are optional for all team members, patients and visitors. We are tracking CDC Community Levels of COVID-19 every other week to guide this policy, and masks will remain optional while our community levels of COVID are “low” or “medium”. Should the Community Level return to “high”, facemasks will return to being required.
• Environment – Surfaces and equipment are disinfected between patients, and our waiting rooms have been arranged to accommodate appropriate social distancing standards.

Surgery Updates

With increased safety protocols, our physicians’ surgical schedules are open as normal.

COVID-19 in Ophthalmology

An article published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology noted that several reports suggest that COVID-19 can cause conjunctivitis (commonly known as “pink eye”). Although not as common of a symptom as fever, cough and difficulty breathing, this is something our scheduling team will take into consideration. 

More About COVID-19 from the CDC

Here are a few tips to protect yourself from this respiratory illness:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

Please contact out office if you have any questions related to our COVID-19 protocols.

Sources: www.cdc.gov, www.aao.org