Patient Resources

May 7th, 2021

AT CLARUS, YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY ARE OUR TOP PRIORITY. 

We are committed to doing our part to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community and beyond, which is why we continue to monitor information from all federal, state and local health agencies to ensure that we are following the latest recommendations.

Social Distancing

To help limit the number of people in our clinic at any given time and abide by social distancing requirements, we are asking caregivers and family members who accompany patients to their appointments to wait in their vehicles unless their presence is necessary.

In addition, our doctors’ schedules have been modified to reduce wait times and help prevent any crowding.

We have also rearranged our lobbies and we are asking that patients and doctors limit speaking during exams and treatments to necessary conversation only if social distancing cannot be maintained.

Patient and Employee Screenings

When you visit us, you will be screened for any fever and cold symptoms. Anyone with cold symptoms or a fever over 100 degrees, determined to be high risk or who is showing overt signs and symptoms of any illness, will be asked to leave the building and call us to reschedule their appointment.

We also require that anyone entering the building wear a mask or face covering.

Hygiene

Every employee at Clarus practices strict hand hygiene and all staff frequently sanitize surfaces in our facility throughout the day.

We have also constructed protective barriers between patients and staff wherever possible.

Our physicians and staff are highly trained regarding safe and sterile protocols and will continue to practice all exams and procedures with great care.

Clarus Optical

Our optical shop is fully open. However, we do ask that customers and patients enter and exit through the main entrance so that they are screened properly. You’ll notice our external shop doors are locked for this reason, and we’re limiting entrance to the shop to our internal doors.

We also require that everyone adhere to mask and social distancing requirements, as outlined above.

We take the health of our Clarus family seriously– and you, our patients, are part of that extended family. We hope you take comfort in the steps we’ve taken to ensure your safety as you visit our clinic and optical shop and we look forward to caring for your eyes for many years to come.

Language Assistance for COVID-19 Information: 

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19

https://www.cdc.gov/other/language-assistance.html

Going to the doctor, going to the dentist—all part of taking care of your health. But going to the eye doctor? Also important! Eye exams at every age and life stage can help keep your vision strong.

Many people think their eyesight is just fine, but then they get that first pair of glasses or contact lenses and the world comes into clearer view—everything from fine print to street signs.

Improving your eyesight is important—about 11 million Americans over age 12 need vision correction—but it’s just one of the reasons to get your eyes examined. Regular eye exams are also an important part of finding eye diseases early and preserving your vision.

Only Your Eye Doctor Knows for Sure

Eye diseases are common and can go unnoticed for a long time—some have no symptoms at first. A comprehensive dilated eye exam icon by an optometrist or ophthalmologist (eye doctor) is necessary to find eye diseases in the early stages when treatment to prevent vision loss is most effective.

During the exam, visual acuity (sharpness), depth perception, eye alignment, and eye movement are tested. Eye drops are used to make your pupils larger so your eye doctor can see inside your eyes and check for signs of health problems. Your eye doctor may even spot other conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes, sometimes before your primary care doctor does.

Vision Care Can Change Lives

Early treatment is critically important to prevent some common eye diseases from causing permanent vision loss or blindness:

• Cataracts (clouding of the lens), the leading cause of vision loss in the United States
• Diabetic retinopathy (causes damage to blood vessels in the back of the eye), the leading cause of blindness in American adults
• Glaucoma (a group of diseases that damages the optic nerve)
• Age-related macular degeneration (gradual breakdown of light-sensitive tissue in the eye)

Of the estimated 93 million US adults at high risk for vision loss, only half visited an eye doctor in the past 12 months. Regular eye care can have a life-changing impact on preserving the vision of millions of people.

Another sight saver: use protective eyewear to avoid injury.

Start Early

Though people tend to have more vision problems as they get older, children need eye exams to ensure healthy vision (PDF Download), too. But only 39% of preschool children have had their vision tested, which is needed to diagnose eye diseases.

Amblyopia (reduced vision because the eye and brain aren’t working together properly) is the most common cause of vision loss in children—2 to 3 out of 100 children. Amblyopia needs to be treated promptly to help avoid vision loss.

Eye Exams: How Often?

• Children’s eyes should be regularly checked by an eye doctor or pediatrician. The US Preventive Services Task Force  recommends vision screening for all children at least once between age 3 and 5 years to detect amblyopia or risk factors for the disease.
• People with diabetes should have a dilated eye exam every year.
• Some people are at higher risk for glaucoma and should have a dilated eye exam every 2 years:
  • African Americans 40 years and older
  • All adults older than 60, especially Mexican Americans
  • People with a family history of glaucoma

5 Ways to Protect Your Vision

1. Get regular eye exams.
2. Eat a healthy diet, including leafy greens such as spinach or kale, and maintain a healthy weight.
3. Know your family’s eye health history.
4. Wear sunglasses that block out 99% to 100% of UV-A and UV-B radiation (the sun’s rays).
5. Quit smoking or don’t start.

Easy on the Eyes

If you spend a lot of time focusing on one thing, such as a computer screen, your eyes can get tired. Try the 20-20-20 rule to reduce eyestrain: every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds.

Other Reasons to See Your Eye Doctor

If you have any of the following eye problems, don’t wait for your next appointment—visit your eye doctor as soon as possible:

• Decreased vision
• Draining or redness of the eye
• Eye pain
• Double vision
• Floaters (tiny specks that appear to float before your eyes)
• Circles (halos) around lights
• Flashes of light

Diabetes and Your Eyes

Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes. High blood sugar damages the blood vessels in the retina (a light-sensitive part of the eye), where scarring can cause permanent vision loss.

Diabetic retinopathy is also one of the most preventable causes of vision loss and blindness. Early detection and treatment can prevent or delay blindness due to diabetic retinopathy in 90% of people with diabetes, but 50% or more of them don’t get their eyes examined or are diagnosed too late for effective treatment.

People with diabetes are also at higher risk for other eye diseases, including glaucoma and cataracts. If you have diabetes, an eye exam every year is necessary to protect and preserve your eyesight and eye health.

Looking Ahead

Due to our aging population, the number of blind and visually impaired people in the United States is estimated to double by 2030 and triple by 2050. Encouraging people to take care of their vision health as part of their overall health and wellness could significantly reduce that number and improve quality of life for millions of Americans.

Original Post: Vision Health