Preparations Prior to Office Visit
It is essential for the eye care provider to prioritize patient care in order of absolute necessity, such as sudden vision loss, sudden onset flashes and floaters, and eye trauma. In cases of potentially sight threatening pathology, it is in the best interest of the patient to conduct a face-to-face appointment. Therefore, it is important to implement new guidelines and protocols as we continue to see these patients (Figure 1).
Prior to the patient entering the medical facility, measures should be implemented to minimize exposure risk. This can be done over the telephone or at vehicle entrance screening stations. The triage technician answering the telephone should have a script of questions to ask. The patient should be instructed to come into the office alone unless, for physical or mental reasons, a caregiver is required.
SARS-CoV-2 Screening Questions
Preparedness through risk mitigation strategies are recommended with a targeted questionnaire and noncontact temperature check at the clinic or hospital entrance. Below are some general questions to further triage patients exposed to SARS-CoV-2.
- Do you have fever or any respiratory symptoms?
- Do you have new or worsening cough or shortness of breath?
- Do you have flulike symptoms?
- Have you been in close contact with someone, including health care workers, confirmed to have the COVID-19?
If the patient answers yes to any of the above questions, the CDC urges health care providers to immediately notify both infection control personnel at your health care facility and your local or state health department.1,2 In regions currently managing significant outbreaks of COVID-19, the AAO recommends that eye care providers assume that any patient could be infected with SARS-CoV-2 and to proceed accordingly.2 If urgent eye care is needed, a referral call should be made to a hospital or center equipped to deal with COVID-19 and urgent eye conditions. When calling the referral center, ensure adequate staffing and space and relay all pertinent information along with receiving approval from the treating physician.
Face-to-Face Office Visits
Once it has been determined that it is in the best interest of the patient to be seen in a face-to-face visit, the patient should be instructed to call the office when they arrive in the parking lot. The CDC recommends limiting points of entry upon arrival and during the visit.1 As soon as an examination lane is ready, the patient can then be messaged to come into the office and escorted into the examination room.
An urgent or emergent ophthalmic examination for a patient with no respiratory symptoms, no fever, and no COVID-19 risk factors should include proper hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and proper disinfection. Several studies have documented SARS-CoV-2 infection in asymptomatic and presymptomatic patients, making PPE of the up most importance.2,7,8 PPE should include mask, face shield, and gloves. Currently, there are national and international shortages on PPE and a heightened topic of discussion concerning mask use, effectiveness with extended wear, and reuse. Please refer to the CDC and AAO websites for up-to-date guidelines (Table).1,2 According to the CDC, N95 respirators are restricted to those performing or present for an aerosol-generating procedure.9
It is recommended that the eye care provider should only perform necessary tests and procedures. Noncontact tonometry should be avoided, as this might cause aerosolization of virus particles. The close proximity between eye care providers and their patients during slit-lamp examination may require further precautions to lower the risk of transmission via droplets or through hand to eye contact. The patient should be advised not to speak during the examination portion and the AAO also recommends a surgical mask or cloth face covering for the patient.2 An additional protective device that may be used during the slit-lamp exam is a breath shield or a barrier shield (Figures 2 and 3).2 Some manufacturers are offering clinicians free slit-lamp breath shields online.