Stay informed about COVID-19.
Updated 9/23/2020:
*If you have recently had cause to be tested for COVID-19, or plan to be tested for COVID-19 in the near future, please postpone appointments until provided with negative results.
*Specific update for September 2020* We are experiencing significant delays in contact lens orders. Due to nationwide and worldwide disruptions to supply chains, the main distributors of contact lenses are facing back-orders of at least a month. We try our best to supply patients with contacts to last until their order arrives, but glasses are recommended as the most reliable backup for vision needs.
Our practice is working to keep you informed of new operations and changes we are making to accommodate COVID-19 and keep our staff and patients safe. We are #doingourpart to keep urgent eye care patients out of the ER to help relieve the strain on hospitals.
To be clear, even under a “stay-at-home” or “safer-at-home” health orders you are permitted to leave your house for essential and emergency health care. You can stay up-to-date with current orders from Governor Polis here.
The City of Westminster and Jefferson County have shifted to “Safer-at-Home”. This development includes a provision that requires face masks within all businesses in the city. *There are medical exceptions. At Family Vision Center all staff wear face masks and we ask that all patrons entering out building do so as well. Face masks work to prevent the spread of your own respiratory droplets and significantly help in the prevention of disease. If we all wear them we are all protecting each other. #inthistogether #protectyourneighbor
IMPORTANT: If you believe you experience these symptoms of pink eye, you should evaluate yourself for further signs of illness and call your primary care physician. There may be evidence that pink eye could be an early symptom of COVID-19, but there are also unrelated cases of pink eye, and other eye infections that should not be ignored. Evaluate your children for these symptoms as they often touch their eyes and face.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR CONTACT LENS WEARERS: If you believe you have symptoms of COVID-19 it’s been recommended by the American Optometric Association to temporarily stop wearing contact lenses. The virus has shown to be present in tears and eye secretions in infected individuals, even those who have recovered. If you believe you have symptoms or are told by a primary care doctor that you are presumptive positive, please call our office for personalized instructions on contact lens wear. Contact lenses are not damaging to your eyes, but if you can limit touching your eyes by not wearing contacts, you will help slow or prevent the potential spread of the virus to other surfaces or persons in your home. We will continue to post updates here as we learn more about this issue.
Please DO NOT hesitate to call if you have:
- Trauma: blunt force, projectile, foreign object in eye, chemical burn, scratch.
- Flashes/Floaters/Halos: sudden flashes of light, with or without pain.
- Urgent Contact Lens Complications: redness, pain, sensitivity to light are potential signs of corneal damage or dangerous infection.
- Sudden Vision Loss: gradual or acute blackout, tunnel vision, blind spots.
- Sudden Vision Changes: Sudden blurriness or double vision.
- Drooping Eyelid: sudden or acute.
- No Current Vision Solutions: If you have lost or broken your ONLY pair of glasses we will see you for a replacement.
- If you are out of contacts, we may be able to extend your prescription until you are able to schedule an eye exam. Check out our new contact lens ordering button on our homepage!
- Out of Prescription Eye Drops or Medication: some prescriptions may be extended over the phone at this time. Please call to check.
- Diabetic check-ups are permitted
- Glaucoma check-ups are permitted
- Any other medical routine check-ups for Hypertension, Macular Degeneration, or a history of retinal concerns.
- You may contact us to discuss telehealth. From what we know, all major insurances are paying for telehealth sessions related to COVID-19 concerns.
As we work toward a “new normal” here are some of the safety measures we’ve enacted in our office:
- We cannot accept walk-ins at this time. All visitors must have an appointment, including for repairs/adjustments to eyewear.
- All patients are required to wear a face mask and wash their hands upon entering the office before touching any surface or using pens, chairs, door handles, etc
- Please try to come alone to your appointment, rather than bring children or extra visitors. If you do need to bring children with you they’ll need to wear face masks as well.
- Our opticians are now providing adjustments and repairs but please call to make an appointment.
- Appointments are spaced out to allow the staff time to clean and disinfect surfaces between patients.
- Staff temperatures are taken and monitored throughout the day.
- Frames that are touched by shoppers are set aside for cleaning and disinfecting.
- Copays and bills may be paid electronically. We have contactless payment abilities.
- Eyewear orders can be shipped to your home.
- Pick-ups can be arranged outside our front office doors to limit the amount of people in the office.
These safety measures are likely here to stay for the foreseeable future.
We can all make a contribution to the safety of our community.
We are here to help. If you think you need essential or emergency eye care, please call us. You’re part of our family!