Latest COVID-19 Update from Vista Eyes

Current at 30.04.20

At Vista Eyes Laser Eye Clinic, we are monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation very closely and will continue to act under the guidelines from the Australian health authorities and RANZCO.

Accordingly, our clinic is OPEN for consultations and laser eye surgery.

After a temporary ban on elective surgery, including cataract surgery, the National Cabinet announced last week that cataract surgery is allowed to resume from Monday 27th April.   For our patients, this means eye assessments for cataract and IOL surgery will continue and those patients on wait lists for cataract or IOL surgery will be contacted in the coming days.

As always, please call our clinic if you have any queries.

Importantly, over the last few weeks, we have implemented the following precautions at our clinic to prevent the spread of the virus, and to ensure the health and safety of our patients and team members:

Increased Infection Control Procedures

In addition to our regular high standard of infection control and sterilization, we have implemented the following:

  • Increased sanitation of hard surfaces in highly trafficked areas such as reception, waiting areas, clinical and consulting rooms.
  • All clinical and consulting rooms are sanitised after every patient.
  • Protective screens installed at reception.
  • Additional hand sanitisers are available to be used in waiting area, reception, clinical and consulting rooms.
  • Removal of magazines & books.
  • Removal of coffee and tea cups and replaced with single use, disposable cups.

Team Members’ Health & Safety

  • Team members must stay home if they are showing any signs of illness, even if mild, and will not return to work until it is deemed safe to do so by their doctor.
  • All team members are having their temperature measured at the forehead upon entering the workplace

Limiting Traffic Inside the Clinic 

  • We advise that only scheduled patients will be allowed into the consulting rooms and clinical areas and ask that support people (unless required for interpretation or mobility assistance) and family members don’t enter the clinic unnecessarily.  We are happy to phone a support person to return to pick up the patient, if needed, at the conclusion of the appointment.

Patient Screening 

As has been the case since the start of the outbreak, we request that anybody who:

  • has been overseas recently, or
  • has been in contact with anybody who is ill, or
  • shows any of the known symptoms of:
    • fever
    • cough
    • shortness of breath
    • sore throat

does not enter the clinic for 14 days and to call us to reschedule your appointment.

In addition:

  • We are calling patients one day prior to their appointment and asking the above questions.
  • All all patients are asked to sign a declaration form upon entering our clinic to confirm the above, prior to being seated.
  • All patients are required to have their temperature measured at the forehead by staff as a condition of their appointment.

We appreciate your full cooperation in this matter and thank you for continuing to help us maintain a safe and healthy environment.

More Information 

For information on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), call the Australian Government’s National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.