The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 19th August 2020, issued preventive and response measures to be observed to minimize and avoid the spread of COVID-19 in eye care facilities.
These guidelines are aimed to minimize the spread of Covid-19 infection among ophthalmologists, Ophthalmic assistants/technicians, nurses, support staff, patients and their attendants, however, eye care facilities in containment zones shall remain closed and only those outside containment zones will be allowed to open up.
Key Highlights from the guidelines.
- All eye-care facilities shall encourage tele-counselling and teleconsultation to lessen patient visits and/or appointment system can be followed to call patients needing examination/eye investigations/procedures and the screening of patients for Cataract and other eye diseases in outreach areas may be undertaken only after duly following social distancing, hand hygiene and personal protective measures.
- Entrance to hospital/clinic to have mandatory hand hygiene and thermal screening provisions.
- No eye ball retrieval from homes to be undertaken, only Hospital Cornea Retrieval Program can be continued in non-Covid-19 cadavers, for utilization of corneas for therapeutic purposes only
- Any shops, stalls, cafeteria etc., outside and within the premises shall follow social distancing norms at all times.
- For air-conditioning/ventilation, the guidelines of CPWD shall be followed which emphasizes that the temperature setting of all air conditioning devices should be in the range of 24-30o C, relative humidity should be in the range of 40- 70%, intake of fresh air should be as much as possible and cross ventilation should be adequate.
- Only one Attendant should be allowed with one patient and Social distancing of at least 6 feet to be followed at all times as far as feasible in the queue or in doctor’s chamber.
- OPD premises should be disinfected with 1% hypochlorite frequently and after all the patients have been seen.
- Eye drops should be put in the patient’s eye by a nursing/paramedical staff with a no touch technique.
