Category: COVID-19 Resources

IACLE webinar on COVID-19 and contact lens practice 

More than 200 educators and students joined our live webinar on ‘Contact lens practice in the COVID-19 scenario’ led by President Dr Shehzad Naroo and Vice President Professor Philip Morgan. Watch the webinar on our new teaching online platform, IACLETOP. 

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Low rate of conjunctivitis in COVID-19 patients

A new study by Docherty et al published in the British Medical Journal found that of 20,133 patients admitted to UK hospitals with COVID-19, only 0.3% of those experiencing symptoms presented with conjunctivitis, the lowest incidence of all the symptoms reported.

Read the full text

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COVID-19: An eye on the virus

An editorial by Cho & Boost in press in Contact Lens & Anterior Eye suggests ‘Avoid touching MEN’ (Mouth, Eyes, Nose) as a reminder that the virus can enter via any of these gateways. Of these entry points, the least considered has been the eyes, the authors say.

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Diagnostic lenses in the age of ISO and COVID-19

A Summit of Specialty Contacts lecture by Dr Louise Sclafani and Professor Loretta Szczotka-Flynn discusses the ‘new normal’ in diagnostic lens disinfection, in light of new International Standards Organization (ISO) guidelines and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Watch the video

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Final call for survey responses on the impact of COVID-19

Thanks to all those who have already replied to IACLE’s survey on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global contact lens education. The end of the month is the deadline for responses.

Please complete the survey before 31 May

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Students join IACLE global webinar on COVID-19

In a first for our global events, students worldwide took part in a live webinar on ‘Contact lens practice in the COVID-19 scenario’ via Facebook. IACLE President Dr Shehzad Naroo and Vice President Professor Philip Morgan presented the webinar.

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The role of the eye in transmitting human coronavirus

A review published by Sun et al in Frontiers in Public Health considers what we know and don’t know about the role of the eye in COVID-19 infection. The authors offer advice on infection control and personal protection in eye care practice.

Read the full text

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Latest issue of Contact Lens & Anterior Eye

The June issue of Contact Lens & Anterior Eye (43:3) includes a total of nine publications on COVID-19, contact lenses and the ocular surface. The editorial, articles and short communications are all open access.

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BCLA guidance on returning to practice

The British Contact Lens Association has issued recommendations on returning to practice after lockdown, to be used in conjunction with local country/regional regulatory advice and/or professional body guidance. 

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Patient safety advocates call for action on online sales

In the US, the Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety – partnered by the American Optometric Association – calls on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce patient health safeguards related to contact lens sales amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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Survey on the impact of COVID-19 on global contact lens education

Thanks to all those who have already replied to the IACLE survey sent to all Educator Members on 12 May. The end of the month is the deadline for responses.

Please complete the survey before 31 May

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The ocular surface, coronaviruses and COVID-19

A review by Willcox and co-authors published online in Clinical & Experimental Optometry evaluates evidence for the ocular surface as a route of infection with SARS-CoV-2.

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COVID-19: The science and relevance to the eye

Might wearing contact lenses be protective against COVID-19 entering the ocular surface and airways? In the latest video lecture from the American Academy of Optometry, Professor Suzanne Fleiszig said this was just one of many questions as yet unanswered.

View the lecture

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Weathering the COVID-19 storm

The May issue of Contact Lens Spectrum includes articles on strategies for managing contact lens practice during the pandemic, and how industry and practitioners are working together to help specialty lens wearers.

Read the issue

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The art of the virtual lecture

Coach and consultant Ian Davies delivered the first in IACLE’s new series of global lectures. In ‘The art of the virtual lecture’, Ian described how educators could adapt their teaching to a post-COVID world and said the future of the contact lens industry was in their hands. The lectures are live every Tuesday in May and are also available to members online.

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Academy COVID-19 Video Series

The American Academy of Optometry has launched free video lectures on Coronavirus disease, starting with ‘SARS COV2: COVID-19 – A Clinical Review’ by President Dr Barbara Caffery and Past President Dr Joseph Shovlin.

View the lectures

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Flashcards for practitioners and patients

The European industry organization EUROMCONTACT has two flashcards – ‘Contact lens practice and COVID-19: 4 actions for you to minimise transmission’ and ‘4 key points for your patients’ – available in 10 languages.

Download the flashcards

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Risk of ocular trauma during lockdown

A new study highlights the increased risk of eye injuries at home and delayed presentation during lockdown. Writing in Contact Lens & Anterior Eye, Hamroush et al report that gardening and home improvements were the principal factors.

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College of Optometrists’ guidance on adapting practice

In the UK, professional body The College of Optometrists provides a range of resources on COVI-19, including guidance on procedures to follow in eye care practice to minimize social contact during the pandemic.

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The impact of COVID-19 on contact lens education

IACLE is to survey its members on the current effects of the pandemic on contact lens education worldwide, and how educators and institutions plan to adapt in future.

See our May Global Member Newsletter for details

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Five facts you need to know

The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) is making its infographic, ‘Coronavirus and contact lenses: five facts you need to know’, available in 20 languages.

Download the graphic

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Considerations for a return to patient care

The American Academy of Optometry has a checklist ‘Considerations for a return to patient care’, based on evidence in the literature and guidelines from government agencies. 

Find the checklist

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Guidance on post-COVID-19 optometry practice

The American Optometric Association has issued guidance for post-COVID-19 practice, including a step-by-step Optometry Practice Reactivation Preparedness Guide.   

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Highlighting the need for credible information

Correspondence in press in Contact Lens & Anterior Eye highlights the importance of credible information about contact lens wear during the pandemic.

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Could telehealth be used in contact lens practice?  

Also in Contact Lens & Anterior Eye, Nagra et al examine the potential for telehealth to help practitioners adapt their contact lens services during the pandemic.

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IACLE’s Tuesday live lectures around the world

A new series of global weekly lectures on hot topics in contact lenses – including ‘Contact lens practice in the COVID-19 scenario’ – will run every Tuesday in May.

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IACLE Position Statement in Chinese

Our Position Statement on the COVID-19 pandemic and contact lens use is now available in Chinese (simplified) as well as English and Spanish.

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Specialty Contact Lens Summit moves online

The Summit 2020 – the specialty contact lens event due to take place in Rome, Italy from 4-6 September – will be replaced with a series of free online meetings starting on 9 May.

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CDC guidance for contact lens wearers

Should contact lens wearers should take special precautions to prevent COVID-19? And is contact lens disinfecting solution effective against COVID-19? The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new guidance to answer these questions.

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The COVID-19 pandemic: important considerations for contact lens practitioners 

A paper in press in Contact Lens & Anterior Eye by FIACLE Professor Lyndon Jones and co-authors reviews current understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the evidence surrounding COVID-19 disease, contact lenses and spectacles, and the impact on clinical care.

Read the full text

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COVID-19 and contact lenses: the facts you need to know

The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) outlines ‘5 facts glasses and contact lens wearers need to know – based on the Contact Lens & Anterior Eye paper – and provides a useful graphic, plus other resources. 

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COVID-19 & contact lenses: behind the science 

Contact Lens Spectrum features an interview by Professor Jason Nichols with authors of the Contact Lens & Anterior Eye paper, including IACLE Vice President Professor Philip Morgan discussing how contact lens practice – and lens wear – is changing during the pandemic. 

Watch the interview

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IACLE Web Lectures on COVID-19 in Latin America 

More than 1,100 educators watched recent online lectures delivered by the IACLE LA office. Topics included ‘How effective are contact lens solutions in the COVID-19 scenario? (2 April) and ‘Biosecurity strategies in contact lens practice against COVID-19 (13 April).

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Global Meetings & Events

The European Academy of Optometry and Optics (EAOO) Annual Conference, due to take place in Helsinki, Finland (15-17 May) is the latest event to be postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. The new dates are 23-25 April 2021.

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A NEW RESOURCE FROM IACLE

The effects of the global outbreak of the Coronavirus disease COVID-19 continue to be felt around the world. In these challenging times, IACLE is here to help you keep up to date with the latest developments  

From this week we are introducing a dedicated web page bringing together useful links and references on COVID-19 and contact lenses, and COVID-19 Updates sent directly to your mailbox.   Below is a roundup of information and resources we have delivered to our members – and educators more widely – over the past two months. Please follow the links to learn more and look out for our regular updates over the coming weeks

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IACLE Position Statement on COVID-19

Our position statement on COVID-19 and contact lenses summarizes the key points to consider and measures for wearers and clinicians to adopt during the pandemic.

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Free online resources for all educators

The IACLE Case Reports Series is now in the Free Resources area of our website, along with the 2013 version of the IACLE Contact Lens Course for use as a student aid.

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Narrated lectures on building successful practice

Educators worldwide took part in our series of live daily lectures on the Zoom platform. Recorded versions are on our website for members to use with their students. 

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How contact lens education is adapting

Educational institutions are having to adapt to serve the needs of their students during the pandemic, as our members around the world are reporting.

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Research Update: Contact lens practice in the time of COVID-19

FIACLE Dr Fabrizio Zeri and IACLE President Dr Shehzad Naroo describe measures to adopt in contact lens practice in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.

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COVID-19 protections for contact lens wearers

FIACLE Professor Lyndon Jones, IACLE Vice President Professor Philip Morgan and Professor Jason Nichols reply to misinformation on contact lens use during the pandemic.

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Global Meetings & Events

Find new dates for 2020 meetings that have been postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.

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