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Covid - 19 Safeguards

In response to recent COVID-19 concerns, we are writing to assure our patients that we are taking recommended precautions. During this crisis we have been closely monitoring the development of cases that have emerged in Illinois and our local community. Proper sanitation standards are not new to us, we follow regular protocols required through sanitization between every patient interaction at Eye Q Vision. It has always been our goal to provide a clean, safe environment for our patients and staff. Because of recent events we cannot ignore the contagious nature of this virus and have put into place additional safeguards and precautions as we prepare for COVID-19. To ensure the continued safety of our patients and staff members, EYE Q VISION has enacted the following policies, effective immediately: * Any staff members with symptoms will not come to work * As always, all staff members will wash or sanitize their hands before and after every patient encounter. * Our patient lobby, common areas, and bathrooms will be sanitized throughout the day including exam rooms, door handles, chairs, counters and optical equipment. * We have hand sanitizer available in the waiting room and exam rooms. Soap and paper towels are available in the bathroom and contact lens area. Our commitment to our community and our patients remains intact, therefore, we will be available for urgent and emergent eye care needs. Urgent eye care is defined as medical care provided for illnesses or injuries which require prompt attention but are typically not of such seriousness as to require the services of an emergency room. Emergent care is defined as medical care for conditions requiring prompt medical attention due to a sudden change in the eye or visual health. We will continue to monitor updates from the CDC and other federal health agencies on patient care and the nationwide public health response. Please stay tuned for updates and changes to our scheduling. We wish you all the best. Stay safe and healthy! Sincerely, EYE Q VISION and staff

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  • How to Keep Your Eyes Safe From Germs

How to Keep Your Eyes Safe From Germs

  • Created in Newsletters

Woman rubbing her eyes

Protecting Your Eyes from Germs

Germs look for the easiest way into your body, often entering through your eyes and other mucus membranes. Fortunately, taking a few simple steps to protect your eyes may reduce your chance of developing an illness or infection.

Don't Touch Your Face

Like most people, you probably touch your face many times throughout the day without thinking about what you're doing. In fact, medical students who participated in a study at the University of New South Wales touched their faces an average of 23 times per hour. Forty-four percent of those touches involved the nose, mouth, or eyes.

If bacteria or viruses are on your hands, you'll transfer them to your eyes by touching or rubbing. Although your hands may look clean, they actually harbor more germs than you may realize. A typical hand has about 150 different species of bacteria on it, according to a University of Colorado at Boulder study.

Rubbing your eyes can also increase your risk of developing keratoconus, an eye condition that occurs when the normally round cornea becomes thin and cone-shaped. The cornea is the clear tissue covering your iris and pupil. If you develop keratoconus, your vision may become blurred and distorted.

Wash Your Hands

No matter how careful you are about keeping your hands away from your face, you're bound to forget from time to time. You'll be less likely to spread germs to your eyes if you make hand-washing a frequent habit.

Fortunately, soap and warm water will remove the germs that could make you sick. Scrub your hands and nails for at least 20 seconds to get rid of bacteria and viruses. If running water isn't available, hand sanitizer is a good option.

In addition to washing your hands after using the bathroom, wash them:

  • Before and After Preparing Raw Meat, Poultry, or Fish
  • After Working with Soil
  • After Changing a Diaper, Helping Someone Else with Bathroom Needs, or Removing Animal Waste
  • After Taking Out the Trash
  • After You Blow Your Nose or Sneeze
  • After Washing and Bandaging a Wound
  • Before Touching Your Eyes or Using Eye Drops
  • After Taking Care of Someone Who Is Ill

Clean Your Glasses

The outside of your glasses may be coated in germs, particularly if someone sneezes or coughs near you. Handling your glasses, then absentmindedly touching your eyes, will send those germs into your eyes.

Clean your glasses in the morning and evening, or after you've been around someone who has been sneezing or coughing. You don't need expensive eyeglass cleaners to remove bacteria and viruses. Soap and warm water will get rid of the germs.

Avoid Sick People

Keeping your distance from people who sneeze, cough, or mention that they don't feel well will help keep germs away from your face. If possible, stay at least six feet away from people who are ill.

Follow Contact Lens Hygiene Recommendations

Germs and viruses may also find their way into your eyes if you wear contact lenses and don't practice good hygiene. In addition to increasing your risk of illness, poor contact lens hygiene can cause potentially serious eye infections that could temporarily or permanently affect your vision.

If you wear contact lenses, be sure to:

  • Wash your hands before putting in, removing, or handling your lenses.
  • Clean your contact lens case every day, and refill the wells with fresh solution. (Don't just top off the solution already in the wells.)
  • Replace your contact lens case every three months or as soon as it becomes cracked or damaged.
  • Never use saliva to wet/clean your lenses.
  • Follow your eye doctor's cleaning instructions.
  • Keep the cap on solutions to prevent contamination.
  • Don't wear your contact lenses while swimming.
  • Replace your lenses as recommended by your optometrist.

Regular eye examinations will help you keep your eyes healthy. Contact our office if you're ready to make an appointment for your next exam.

Sources:

American Academy of Ophthalmology: How to Take Care of Contact Lenses, 3/18/20

International Journal of Ophthalmology: The Correlation Between Keratoconus and Eye Rubbing: A Review, 2019

University of Colorado at Boulder: Women Have More Diverse Hand Bacteria Than Men, According to CU-Boulder Study, 11/3/08

All About Vision: Eye Germs and Viruses: Keeping Hands, Glasses and Contacts Clean, 8/20

American Academy of Ophthalmology: Eye Infections: Be Careful Now or Regret It Later, 6/24/20

Cleveland Clinic: Common Cold

PubMed: American Journal of Infection Control: Face Touching: A Frequent Habit That Has Implications for Hand Hygiene, 2/15

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Frequent Questions About Hand Hygiene

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