If you are visiting your ophthalmologist’s office for routine eye care or for an urgent need, we understand you may feel nervous about going to your appointment during the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Rest assured that ophthalmologists, like all medical professionals, follow strict hygiene and disinfection guidelines. New procedures for routine and urgent eye care limiting close physical contact among people is key to helping reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Symptoms of coronavirus—such as fever, cough and shortness of breath—can appear two to 14 days after a person is exposed. People with severe infections can develop pneumonia and die from this lung illness. For in-person appointments, here are ways your ophthalmologist will protect patient health in the office or clinic setting during COVID-19. Expect changes to eye exams and procedures: • You must wear a mask to your appointment. If you do not have a mask, the eye clinic may provide one for you. • The clinic may ask you to wait outside, or in your car, instead of in the normal waiting room. This is to protect you, the other patients, and the office staff from possible virus exposure in crowded waiting areas. The clinic is likely restricting the number of people that enter. If you do not need someone there with you, please do not bring your driver or companion inside the office to your appointment. You doctor and all staff will wear a mask, and may wear gloves and goggles or a plastic shield over their eyes. • Your doctor may ask you to wait to speak until after your eye exam is complete. Then they can talk with you and answer questions when they can be a safe distance from you. You will be asked to follow special guidelines for safety. • If you have a cough or a fever, or have been in close contact with someone who has these symptoms, you must call your doctor’s office ahead of time and let them know. If your visit is not an emergency, you may need to stay home. • If you arrive sick, your doctor may ask you to go home. If you have an eye problem that must be seen right away, you will be asked to wait in a special room away from other patients. The clinic staff and your ophthalmologist may wear more protective equipment, such as a gown and gloves. • If you need to cough or sneeze during your exam, move back from the slit-lamp microscope machine. Bury your face in the crook of your arm or cover your face with a tissue. Wash your hands with soap and water right away. Ophthalmologists are always available for eye emergencies. Remember that ophthalmologists are always available to treat urgent/emergency eye issues, deliver eye injections and provide critical care. How can coronavirus affect your eyes? Coronavirus can spread through the eyes—just as it does through the mouth or nose. When someone who has coronavirus coughs, sneezes, or talks, virus particles can spray from their mouth or nose onto your face. You are likely to breathe these tiny droplets in through your mouth or nose. But the droplets can also enter your body through your eyes. You can also become infected by touching your eyes after touching something that has the virus on it. It might be possible for coronavirus to cause a pink eye infection (conjunctivitis), but this is rare. If you have pink eye, don’t panic. Simply call your ophthalmologist to let them know and follow their instructions for care. Keep in mind that whether pink eye is caused by a virus or bacteria, it can spread if someone touches that sticky or runny discharge from the eyes, or touches objects contaminated by the discharge. Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer often. Do not share towels, cups or utensils with others. Guarding your eyes — as well as your hands, nose, and mouth — can slow the spread of coronavirus.
Such a gorgeous day to visit Anacortes, Oak Harbor and Coupeville! The views never disappoint!
Headed out to beautiful Anacortes and Oak Harbor today! Looking forward to seeing some of our great eye care professionals! It's been far too long !
As we continue to navigate the “new normal” of daily life during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bellingham Retina Specialists extends our thanks to and admiration for all of our patients and their families. Your positive outlook, cooperation and confidence in Bellingham Retina is an endless source of inspiration. We will continue to provide in-office care for all essential and urgent retinal needs. In most cases, you will see your regular physician. Appointments and waiting rooms have been reconfigured to increase social distancing, you can wait in your car until your appointment time, and all of our staff utilize appropriate personal protective equipment and recommended sterilization techniques. We are grateful for your many expressions of thanks and positive feedback during these challenging times.
BRS wishes you and your family well during these difficult times. We are committed to ensuring that our patients and staff remain as safe and healthy as possible by following CDC guidelines. Our offices are currently open, and our physicians are seeing patients during normal business hours, though we will be rescheduling all nonurgent appointments. Please DO NOT visit our office if you have traveled to affected countries in the past 14 days, or have been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19) in the last 14 days. If you have an urgent eye problem please call our offices. Our phones continue to be covered 24/7. Thank you and stay safe and healthy!
Meet our staff! Hey there! My name is Dani and I am an Ophthalmic Technician at Bellingham Retina Specialists. I absolutely love working in ophthalmology and I love making a difference in our patient experience. Not a day goes by that I don’t get at least one hug! I live in Bellingham with my Husband and our two pups Zoey and General. We spend most of our weekends camping and hiking in the mountains or snuggling our pups at home. My favorite thing is to live joyfully and spread good vibes!
Best wishes for the new year, from all of us at Bellingham Retina!
