COVID-19 Update

Sub Title

by Dougherty Laser Vision

April 2023: DLV is still operating at regular hours. The California Department of Public Health has replaced the mandatory masking requirements in healthcare settings with recommendations. It is not required for you to wear a mask in our facility. Masks are provided upon request.

Regardless of the COVID-19 community levels, CDPH recommends:

  • Wear a mask around others if you have respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, runny nose, and/or sore throat),
    Consider wearing a mask in indoor areas of public transportation (such as in airplanes, trains, buses, ferries) and transportation hubs (such as airports, stations, and seaports). This is increasingly important as the risk for transmission increases in the community.
  • When choosing to wear a mask, ensure your mask provides the best fit and filtration (respirators like N95, KN95 and KF94 are best).
  • If you’ve had a significant exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, wear a mask for 10 days.

FAQ: COVID-19 and the Eye

Please note that this information is evolving and changing rapidly.  Please check back for updates.

  1. Does COVID-19 affect the eye?  The SARS-COV-2 virus which causes COVID-19 infection can cause conjunctivitis, which is inflammation and redness of the white of the eye.  If you have a red eye, call our office to schedule a telemedicine or physical appointment. If you have red eye, along with fever, cough, shortness of breath, then you are suspicious for COVID-19 at the present time and should contact your primary care doctor or go to the emergency room.
  2. Can you catch or spread COVID-19 through the eye? Yes.  You should avoid touching your eyes when in public as the virus remains active on surfaces as long as several hours, and you may transfer the virus to the surface of your eye and become infected.  If another person infected with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, or even talks near you (reportedly less than 6 feet), you can become infected by infected droplets contacting the surface of your eye. You should therefore wear a full-face shield or goggles, in addition to a mask, if you are in close proximity to a known COVID-19 patient.  If you are infected with COVID-19, you may infect someone else if they handle a used tissue or touch a surface contaminated by your tears or other eye.
  3. Can I see my eye doctor for an examination or surgery during the pandemic?  Yes- we are continuing to follow our established patients and evaluate new patients by in- person and virtual online visits.
  4. Why is a virtual check-in helpful for my eye condition? A virtual check-in allows a personalized face-to-face meeting with a clinic technician, while minimizing the risk of COVID-19 exposure, along with travel and wait-time. This check-in can accomplish critical parts of your evaluation, whether you are a new or established patient, including review of your present condition, prior eye and medical history, discussion of diagnoses, treatment plans, and follow-up. Portions of your exam, as dictated by your condition, will require a physical examination in the office at a later date. If your doctor determines that your condition is urgent, you will be scheduled to come into the office soon.
  5. If I have an urgent eye problem that requires me to come into the office, is it safe to do so?  The risk of exposure to COVID-19 or transmitting infection to others must be weighed against the urgency of your eye condition.  If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 infection or have symptoms that are suspicious, you should contact your primary care provider or emergency room before leaving your home and coming into our offices for a physical eye exam.  All patients coming to the office during the pandemic are screened for symptoms of COVID-19 infection. The virus is very susceptible to disinfecting processes which are done meticulously in our offices.