Worried about the Coronavirus?

As a health care facility, Marina Del Rey Optometry, has always taken care to disinfect instruments to avoid the spread of viruses. The Coronavirus reminds us that there is a difference between disinfecting and sterilizing. Marina Del Rey Optometry is big advocate for single use contact lenses. Since each lens is sterile, there is less chance of infection. We are not saying this prevents all infections, but it does decrease the incidence.

Being so close to LAX, we have to be aware of the increased risk of possible exposure to the Coronavirus.

As you are aware from recent news reports, there is a confirmed case of the Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Orange County.

• No evidence of person to person transmission in Orange County
• There was a person to person transmission between wife and huband in Chicago area
• Risk of infection to public is beleived to be low

Our patient's and team's health is our utmost concern and top priority. Our team continues to monitor their health, as well as practicing preventive care as one would during flu season:

• Wash hands routinely. Soap and water is sufficient. Drying hands on clean towels is essential
• Staying home from work for at least 24 hours following any symptoms of illness
• Consulting with your primary care physician

Additional preventive measures:

• Marina Del Rey Optometry continues to clean our instruments with bactericidal spray or alcohol between each patient. This has always been our standard.
• As part of our opening procedure, we use bactericidal spray to wipe down the keyboards, telephones, counters, door handles, exam rooms and any common areas
• We consider all our contact lens cases single use disposable. 
• We can not sterilize the whole office but we do routinely disinfect the office.

Important points to consider:

• CDC guidelines indicate that people who have casual contact with an infected person such as in the office are at minuscule risk of developing infection
• Unless you have been to Wuhan, the risk is very low. But it is possible we could come in contact with someone who has been there and is infected.

For ore information regarding the Coronavirus, please visit the following website:

• www.cdc.gov

Author

Kristine Kobayashi, OD Kris Kobayashi, O.D. completed her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She then earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Southern California College of Optometry. Dr. Kobayashi has specialized training in low vision and hospital-based optometry. She obtained her license to utilize pharmaceutical agents in the state of California in 1997. She discovered her passion for eye care when she got her first pair of glasses in 4th grade. When she is not in the office or at a continuing education meeting, she is spending time with her husband, Randy and 2 kids. She enjoys volunteering for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and at the Orange County Ronald McDonald house.