EYE FOCUS | VISION & VOICE
“How has COVID-19 changed
the eyecare industry?”
“The eyecare community has come together in remarkable ways to meet
the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic – a testament to the resilience
of our community. One of the biggest challenges for eye care providers
has been finding the resources they need to navigate the implications of
the pandemic on their businesses. To meet this challenge, a group of vision
community leaders came together to create ReopenEyecare.com, a digital
platform with timely tools and information eye care providers need during
this time. Knowing that market conditions will continue to evolve, myself
and a team of eye care providers are working closely together as an advisory
board, along with The Vision Council, to advise on future content and
improve the functionality of the website.”
DR. JUSTIN MANNING, OD, MPH, FAAO, and executive vice-president for professional
strategies at Healthy Eyes Advantage Inc. and the leading member of
ReopenEyecare.com’s advisory board.
“The rapid spread of
COVID-19 resulted in a parallel
flood of online information
- much of which turned out
to be false! Take, for example,
the claim that contact lens
wearers should switch to spectacles
as they would provide
‘better protection against the
virus that causes COVID-19.’
A group of international
researchers investigated and
found no scientific evidence of
an increased risk of developing
COVID-19 for contact
lens wearers. The pandemic
has provided an important
reminder to eye care practitioners
(and hopefully their
patients) of the need to cautiously
consider all sources of
coronavirus information. ‘Dr.
Google’ is rarely as accurate as
qualified practitioners.”
DR. LYNDON JONES,
director, Centre for Ocular Research
and Education, University of
Waterloo.
“A highly anticipated 2020 for optometry instead dramatically changed the way we deliver care, keep up-todate
on the industry and manage our practices. During COVID-19, optometrists increasingly provided eye care
services by phone and video. Meanwhile, the OAO transitioned from its annual symposium to online learning.
Now as we reopen, we are operating our offices more efficiently in order to compensate for reduced patient
volumes. With our commitment to safety and success we will make it through this challenging time together.”
DR. RADHIKA CHAWLA, vice-president of the Ontario Association of Optometrists.
6 EYE FOCUS | September Digital 2020