COVID-19 FAQs

EYEWEAR YOUWEAR INSTORE

Can I book an eye test?

Eyewear Youwear has remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can book an eye examination via our online booking system on our website, by calling us on (02) 9267 4099 or emailing us at info@ewyw.com.au.

In accordance with the Australia government requirements, if you are unwell (you have a fever, cough, sore throat, or other cold or flu symptoms) or live with someone who is a confirmed case of COVID-19 do not come in. We will need to delay your appointment for at least 7 days, or until your symptoms have completely resolved.

Will you be updating your store details online?

Yes we will continue to update our store details online.

What safety measures have you put in place at Eyewear Youwear?

We have implemented additional safety measures to protect you, our staff and our community.

Clients are informed, before entering Eyewear Youwear that if they are unwell (they have a fever, cough, sore throat, or other cold or flu symptoms) or live with someone who is a confirmed case of COVID-19, they are not to enter the practice. Similarly, any Eyewear Youwear team members who feel unwell are not coming into work and are being actively supported to ensure that they only return to work once they have a clean bill of health.

All clients having an eye examination, along with the Eyewear Youwear optometrists members are wearing masks. All clients entering the store are provided with hand sanitiser upon entry, along with the WHO poster to demonstrate the correct way to sanitise your hands. 

We are practising social distancing in-store too. We have social distancing floor stickers to provide an easy guide of where you can stand.

We have vigilant cleaning protocols, paying particular attention to frequently touched surfaces. Every piece of technology, from our eyecare equipment to our dispensing equipment to our computers and payment terminals are being thoroughly cleaned. All shelves, trays, light switches, door handles, chairs and railings are being cleaned multiple times a day. All frames that are tried on are safely cleaned afterwards with a UVC lamp.

Regarding consultations, our optometrists Dianne and Harry use the recommended personal protective equipment wear, minimise their close contact with patients and ensure good ventilation of the testing rooms. All pieces of equipment used have not only been thoroughly cleaned but are also used in the safest way possible. 

I am due to collect my glasses from Eyewear Youwear, can I have them delivered to me?

Yes this is possible. Please call us (02) 9267 4099 to finalise your payment and for the arrangement of delivery.

My script has expired and I am unable to get to Eyewear Youwear to have an eye examination. What are my options? Can Eyewear Youwear provide telehealth services?

Your vision and visual wellbeing are of the utmost importance to us. We have been and are continuing to offer telehealth services to those who require it. 

However, it is critical that is you are requiring urgent eye care, and it is outside of office hours, it is important that you do not delay in seeking care – go to Sydney Eye Hospital, 8 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000. Vision is both precious and important and sometimes delay in care can be detrimental.

 

GLASSES 

Will my normal glasses cleaning solution help protect my glasses from the novel coronavirus?

Similar to our hands, it is good practice to regularly clean your glasses. Glasses cleaning solutions contain detergents which help to remove surface miro-organisms that may cause harm to your health. If you do not have access to glasses cleaning solution, you can use mild (neutral pH) dish washing detergent and water. Make sure you clean them thoroughly and then dry them with a clean glasses cleaning cloth. 

Once your glasses are clean, it is difficult to maintain that level of cleanliness, especially if you need to take them on and off throughout the day. If you do need to take them off, ensure the surface you place them down on is also clean, and do not forget to clean them again before rewearing them. 

When putting your glasses on and off it is impossible to not touch them. Therefore it is critical that you have clean hands before doing so, by washing your hands with soap and water as per the WHO guidelines, which you can find here.

Can I keep my glasses coronavirus-free by using hand sanitiser on them?

Although hand sanitiser will help to remove potential health-harming microorganisms from your glasses, but we do not recommend you do this.

Hand sanitisers often have alcohol in them, and chronic use of these cleaners can affect the lens surface quality, and the premium materials used to make your beautiful frames. We recommend cleaning your glasses with either glasses cleaning solutions or mild (neutral pH) dish washing detergent and water. Make sure you clean them thoroughly and then dry them with a clean glasses cleaning cloth.

How often should I wash my glasses cleaning cloth?

Regular use of your glasses cleaning cloth means that the cloth will get dirty. The simplest way to keep it clean is to wash it weekly in the washing machine along with your clothes.

My vision with my glasses doesn’t seem right. How can I get you to fix my problem if I am required to self-isolate?

If you are required to self-isolate, or quarantine, you must follow the guidelines set out by the Australian government and stay in isolation or quarantine until the designated time period has expired.

If your glasses repair is urgent, please do not hesitate to call or email us to explain what is troubling you. If necessary, you could always organise a friend or family member who is not under quarantine restrictions (and who you can give your glasses to in a contactless manner) to bring in your glasses or post your glasses to us and we can be in contact with you to try and mitigate your problem.

 

CONTACT LENSES

Is it safe to wear my contact lenses in the current environment?

Yes, it is still safe to wear your contact lenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that there is an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 with contact lens wear over glasses. These 7 tips will ensure that you are safely wearing your contact lenses:

1. Wash your hands – proper hand hygiene is essential. Wash your hands with soap and water and completely dry them afterwards with a clean cloth before touching your contact lenses and eyes. You can find the WHO guidelines on how to correctly wash your hands here.

2. Do not sleep in your contact lenses – sleeping whilst wearing your contact lenses has been shown to increase your chance of contracting an eye infection by 6-8 times. Also replace your contact lenses as often as recommended by your optometrist.

3. Keep your contact lenses away from all water sources – water can introduce germs to the eyes through the contact lenses. Remove your contact lenses before swimming and avoid showering in them too.

4. Properly clean your contact lenses – make sure to follow the instructions for your cleaning system. If you are using a multipurpose solution to clean your lenses you must ‘rub and rinse’ your contact lenses with the multipurpose solution. You can NEVER use water or saliva! You must clean them every time you remove them. Never ‘top-off’ the solution in the contact lens case either. Use only fresh multipurpose solution in your case and never mix old with fresh solution. Please continue to use your cleaning solution recommended by your optometrist.

5. Take care of your contact lens case – clean your contact lens case by rubbing and rinsing it with multipurpose cleaning solution. NEVER use water or saliva! Afterwards empty the case and dry with a clean tissue and store it upside down with the caps off after each use. Store it away from your bathroom – you do not want any aerosols to contaminate your case. Remember to replace your contact lens case once every 3 months.

6. Talk with us, your optometrists – make sure to discuss your contact lens wear and care habits at your next appointment. Contact lens patients should be reviewed yearly.

7. Be prepared – even if you are a full-time contact lens wearer you need to have a back-up pair of glasses with your current prescription. You never know when you’ll be in a situation where you cannot wear your contact lenses!

Regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic, if you have any cold or flu-like symptoms you should not wear your contact lenses until these symptoms have completely resolved. If you are unwell (in particular, if you have an upper respiratory tract infection) there is a risk that the infection could spread to your eyes resulting in a subsequent conjunctivitis. Alternatively, you may have a reduced immune response whilst fighting this infection, and this can lead to an increased risk of contact lens related inflammation. 

Should I wear contact lenses if I have cold or flu-like symptoms, or if I get COVID-19?

No you should not wear your contact lenses if you have the common cold, influenza or COVID-19, until your cold and flu symptoms have completely resolved. If you are unwell (in particular, if you have an upper respiratory tract infection) there is a risk that the infection could spread to your eyes resulting in a subsequent conjunctivitis. Alternatively, you may have a reduced immune response whilst fighting this infection, and this can lead to an increased risk of contact lens related inflammation.

 

EYE HEALTH

Should I watch out for any eye signs or symptoms that might mean I have contracted COVID-19?

An American study has found that conjunctivitis occurs in 1-3% of people infected with COVID-19. However, all of these patients already had other signs of the disease – including fever and coughing. The conjunctivitis was not their first symptom.

I have an appointment. Do I need to do anything different?

If you have an appointment booked and you are unwell (have a fever, cough, sore throat, or other cold or flu symptoms) or live with someone who is a confirmed case of COVID-19 do not come in. Call us (02) 9267 4099 or email us info@ewyw.com.au and we will reschedule your appointment.

Please also wear a mask, and where possible, attend your appointment alone. If you require a carer, translator or parent (if you are a child), please only bring along one to your appointment. Your carer, translator or child must also not be unwell (have a fever, cough, sore throat, or other cold or flu symptoms), or live with someone who is a confirmed case of COVID-19, and also wear a mask. 

To adhere to social distancing requirements, we do ask that you do not attend your appointment much earlier than your appointment time.

What is considered an ocular emergency or urgent eye care?

Your vision and visual wellbeing are of the utmost importance to us. If we have any of the following problems, we will make it our priority to examine and help you:

• A recent eye injury
• A recent change in your vision that makes you unable to complete your day-to-day or work activities
• An eye infection or foreign object in your eye
• A new red eye
• Eye pain or discomfort
• New onset double vision
• Sudden vision loss
• Flashes of light or new floaters in your vision
• An acute change in a known eye disease or eye condition
• Require a renewed prescription for your eye medication
• Being referred to be seen by us from another healthcare professional
• Require an urgent replacement of broken or lost glasses

However, it is critical that is you are requiring urgent eye care, and it is outside of office hours, it is important that you do not delay in seeking care – go to Sydney Eye Hospital, 8 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000. Vision is both precious and important and sometimes delay in care can be detrimental.

Currently, with our implemented safety protocols we are in an appropriate position to perform eye examinations. So do not worry, if you do not have any of the above problems but still require a routine eye examination, just call us (02) 9267 4099, email us info@ewyw.com.au or book an appointment online via our website.

 

ONLINE CONTACT LENS ORDERS

Will my online contact lens orders be delayed?

Currently, we do not foresee any delays with our online contact lens orders. 

I am self-isolating and need to order contact lenses, but my prescription is expired. Can I still order my contact lenses online with Eyewear Youwear?

Ideally you should have a contact lens eye examination every 12 months. This is to maintain your eye health, check your prescription, and because contact lens technology is constantly evolving so it may be worthwhile to upgrade your contact lenses.

However, during these unprecedented times we understand that not everyone is in a position to come in for their eye examination right now. If this is you, we are able to provide you with your contact lenses based on your previous (expired) prescription. When the time is right for you, please ensure you do come in for your contact lens examination.

Should I order more contact lenses in the event that I’m required to self-isolate? Will you run out of stock?

We do not foresee any issues with our supply of contact lenses, however it is always a good idea to have at least 1 month supply available to you at home. If you need to order more contact lenses you can shop online via our website at any time.

Can I claim my health fund rebate when I order my contact lenses online?

Unfortunately, we are unable to deduct your health fund rebate when you process your order online. However we email you a tax invoice with the required health fund codes so you can directly claim you rebate with your health fund provider.