Coronavirus Guide for Eye Patients from The American Academy of Ophthalmology

By Sasha Korthuis | October 22, 2020 | Comments Off on Coronavirus Guide for Eye Patients from The American Academy of Ophthalmology

See the American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart articles for the latest information about coronavirus and your eyes, advice for patients, and tips for staying healthy at home.

Also available in Spanish: Guía de coronavirus para pacientes oftálmicos

Patient Information

Eye Care During the Coronavirus Pandemic
If you are visiting your ophthalmologist’s office for routine eye care or for an urgent need, you may feel nervous about venturing out during the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). But rest assured that eye care clinics follow strict hygiene and disinfection guidelines to keep you safe. Here are some changes to eye exams and procedures that you may encounter at your next appointment.
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  • Could Eyeglasses Protect Against COVID-19?
    Wearing eyeglasses may lower your chances of contracting the coronavirus, according to a new study from Hubei Province, China. But does this mean everyone should wear eye protection to prevent COVID-19? Not necessarily, experts say.
  • Pink Eye May Be a Symptom of COVID-19 in Children
    A new study suggests that children may experience eye-related symptoms of the coronavirus more often than adults. But don’t hit the panic button if your child has red, itchy eyes, say ophthalmologists.
  • How to Wear a Face Mask Without Fogging Your Glasses
    It may be one of the more innocuous problems of the coronavirus pandemic, but it’s a nuisance nonetheless: fogged up eyewear. It happens when warm breath escapes from the top of your mask and lands on the cooler surface of your lens. Learn to fit your face mask properly and avoid this common problem.
  • Don't Skip Preschool Vision Screens During COVID-19
    Vision screenings for young children usually take place during wellness visits to the pediatrician. But with wellness visits declining during the pandemic, many children’s eyes are going unchecked. Here's why your child's vision screen is essential.
  • Advice for Patients with Macular Degeneration
    Patients who rely on regular eye injections may face tough decisions about traveling to the doctor's office. Here's what you need to know, according to medical experts at the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.
  • Gene Therapy for Blindness May Hold Key to Coronavirus Vaccine
    An experimental COVID-19 vaccine called AAVCOVID could end the coronavirus pandemic in record time, experts say. Learn how ophthalmic researchers helped drive this groundbreaking development.
  • Facedown Treatment for COVID-19 Poses Risk of Vision Loss
    As doctors use ventilators to treat the sickest patients with COVID-19, some patients are being placed on their stomachs to boost the amount of oxygen in their blood. But eye experts warn that facedown positioning, also called prone positioning, could put patients at risk for vision loss.
  • What to Know If You Took Aralen and Plaquenil for COVID-19
    Some patients with coronavirus (COVID-19) were treated with the malaria drugs Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) or Aralen (chloroquine). These drugs are no longer recommended for the emergency treatment of COVID-19. Patients who were treated with these drugs should be aware of possible side effects, including eye problems.
  • Is It Coronavirus or Allergies?
    Are those watery eyes and stuffy nose symptoms of the new coronavirus or just seasonal allergies? Learn how to tell the difference.

Eye Health at Home

Staying Safe Around the House

Posted in COVID-19 Updates, Patient Resources/Education