COVID Policy - Myrtle Beach Eye Doctor

A MESSAGE TO OUR PATIENT FAMILY

Most importantly, and first off, we pray that our entire patient family is safe and virus free and doing their best to quell the United States, South Carolina, and Horry County rates of infection.

At this time (03/23/2020), we encourage all of you and your families to stay in place and only go out or risk infection or transmission if absolutely necessary. The best approach is to act in the best way as not to transfer/pass along the virus instead of keeping yourself from being infected; i.e. we should all act as if we have it and not to spread the infection.

For Your Eyes Site doctor(s) and staff have been monitoring this pandemic, and the responses on all levels (federal down to our local area); there is only one thing certain about COVID-19, the only way to stop infection or transmission is distancing yourself (aka social distancing). Plain and simple, social distancing is a must.

We are looking at a new date to begin seeing patients; Tuesday, May 26, 2020, as we allow some of our colleagues blaze our new way of practice, is a date we are looking at to reopen.

We pray that all of you stay safe and healthy; we apologize for the inconvenience.

The COVID-19 crisis is a fluid situation; now is the time for all of us to be proactive and vigilant to prohibit spreading the virus and putting more people at risk. Our plans are subject to change per recommendations by federal, state, and local authorities.

Dr. Lowe's experience as a Veterans Health Administration (government) doctor and affiliations with some of the original 17 optometry schools (The Ohio State College of Optometry [ alma mater], Michigan College of Optometry, Pennsylvania College of Optometry and Illinois College of Optometry) provides him with federal, state and private sector resources regarding this pandemic; therefore, when we re-open, FYES will follow the strictest approach from federal, state and private sources to for protecting our patients, staff and fellow citizens from spreading COVID-19.

Currently, our doctor(s) and staff are working hard during these grueling times to better prepare our office, our employees, and put into action standard operating procedures ensuring we reduce the chances of infection for anyone in contact with our office, staff or another patient. We can be as vigilant as possible; unfortunately, no matter how prepared, this does not make our office exempt from possible infection and virus-free; a lot depends on our patients staying just as vigilant.

The following links are great resources for general COVID-19 protection; these are general guidelines only; the most successful way to stop viral transmission is no contact through quarantining and social distancing.

Most Importantly:

If any patient feels sick, has a fever, aches, coughing, labored breathing, etc., any of the symptoms related to the Corona Virus listed on the CDC website or has done any extensive travel, especially overseas, Europe, China, etc. (symptoms list at https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/symptoms-causes/syc-20479963* ), please, stay at home, limit any contact with others for the recommended time frame and reschedule your appointment. A routine eye examination is not worth making yourself worse, being infected yourself, infecting someone else, especially a high-risk individual or a family member. We will reschedule you as soon as it is possible.

For Your Eyes Site is implementing the following Standard Operating Procedures (S.O.P.) once the business begins; some approaches may be added or deducted depending on the most up-to-date data and recommendations from the CDC and NIH and other authorities...

Only 1 patient is allowed in the office at a time; new patient paperwork or existing paperwork will be completed in seats next to our office door.
All staff members will be wearing gloves and hopefully masks - if available (due to shortage of nearly all masks that combat infection).
Each patient's examination will be completed and checked out before the next patient enters the office for their appointment.
Our front desk person will watch the door as our patients show for their appointments and check-in each patient.
FYES hours will be back to regular hours (10-6 Monday through Saturday).

Thank you for your patience, time, and attention to this matter. We are going to do the best we can to continue our eye care services once our quarantine is completed. We feel beyond blessed for having such a wonderful patient family and pray everyone is out of harm's way, continues to stay healthy, and has faith that we will all get through this one day at a time. Please remember, we are at the mercy of federal, state, and local authorities, and any closure after our quarantine is beyond our control.

We pray that our family of patients and their families all stay healthy and virus free through this tough time. God bless each and every one of you.

Warmest Regards,
Anthony B. Lowe, OD
Owner, CEO
For Your Eyes Site and Staff