March 3rd 2021 Update

On March 2nd, Governor Greg Abbott issued Executive Order GA-34, which lifts all COVID-19 related restrictions on businesses and individuals—including the mandate to wear a mask, effective March 10th. However, Paragraph 4 of the Order allows businesses the option to require masks.

The available scientific research, and our own national experience, has clearly demonstrated how wearing a mask, social distancing, and washing our hands significantly slows the rate of not only CoVid-19 but influenza as well.

While the staff of Plaza Vision Center is encouraged by the decreasing numbers of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths due to CoVid-19 because of mask wearing and ramped-up vaccines, Texas still has more cases than we did last fall—so, we are not ready, just yet, to stop doing what we know works.

Therefore, Plaza Vision Center, for the time being, will still require the wearing of masks and social distancing while inside the office.

We thank you for your confidence in Plaza Vision Center to do the right thing for you as our patient. We want to keep the PVC patient community, and the PVC staff, healthy by following the science and the latest CDC Guidelines as we move towards the end of the pandemic.

Please call us at 214-969-0467 if you have any questions about this policy or to make an appointment.


To the Plaza Vision Center Family,

Dr. Newman is carefully assessing the needs of our patients, and we are modifying our policies to slow the transmission of the Coronavirus Pandemic through our community while still being available to handle your eye care needs.

The CDC has many wonderful resources. Arming yourself and your family with clear information will help you avoid undue stress.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html?fbclid=IwAR3l03iGi3Gr9xk6Fzb82gGZHTdO7r_1Yglntn_uVvHs5KTpjU9hT11vZQ8

What does all of this mean? 

1) We will be limiting the number of people in the clinic at one time based on recommendations from the Dallas Country Department of Health. As such, Dr. Newman asks that you not bring along others unless absolutely necessary, i.e., for transportation.

2) To help reduce contact points for yourself and the staff, it would be a great help for new patients to fill out our online examination form before your appointment.
Click Here

3) If you are running out of a prescribed medication, please contact us and we can transmit a refill electronically to your pharmacy.

4) If you have an ocular emergency, we are, as always, available to help you at any time.

What is an eye emergency? Usually a sudden onset of:

  • Loss of vision or peripheral (side) vision
  • Pain in or around the eye—especially if there is pain on eye movement.
  • Flashes of light (could be like lightning strikes) or floaters
  • Red or pink eye
  • Double vision.
  • Injury to the eye and the area around it, including chemicals

With our large number of patients that need medically necessary contact lenses (MNCL), sudden pain or lens intolerance (unable to wear lenses) is also considered an eye emergency.

If you have an issue which cannot wait for an office visit, contact us, and we may schedule telehealth appointment with one of our doctors. Medicare has temporarily relaxed its telehealth rules to allow this type of communication during the pandemic crisis. Other insurers may follow suit, and allow for reimbursement of virtual care costs. The consultation must be initiated at your request.

Thank you for your understanding during these difficult times as we look to protect your health, the health of our staff and their families, and the healthcare system. We will get through this time together as a community, and we look forward to serving your eye care needs again in the near future.

With sincerest wishes for your continued good health,

Dr. Newman and all the staff at Plaza Vision Center


March 27 Update

Statement on CoVid-19 and Contact Lenses
By Clarke D. Newman, OD, FAAO, FBCLA, FSLS, FNAP

This morning, several stories were filed on various outlets (CNN and WFAA) that recommends that contact lens wearers discontinue their contact lenses during the CoVid-19, or SARS CoVid-2, pandemic. These stories cite a March 10th public service announcement by the American Academy of Ophthalmology for this claim.

Let’s keep this information in perspective. First, there is no valid scientific evidence that wearing contact lenses increases your chance of contracting CoVid-19. Yes, touching your eyes can be a “vector” of transmission, but it is a fairly weak route of transmission according to the research. Further, touching your eyes is only a vector if you have not washed your hands thoroughly before handling your lenses. It is always proper to wash your hands for at least twenty seconds before touching your eyes or your lenses.

This virus is mostly transmitted via the “Droplet Vector.” That is, people cough or sneeze around you, and you breathe in these droplets. That is why the social distancing is so important in “flattening the curve” of transmission.

There is also zero scientific evidence that wearing glasses offers any additional protection. Since the droplet vector is the primary route of transmission, glasses offer very little protection unless some coughs right in your face. Even in that event, you are likely to get infected by breathing in the droplets. If a loosely fitting mask offers little protection to a healthy person, wearing glasses offers even less.

Certainly, if discontinuing your contact lens wear makes you feel more comfortable during this pandemic, then you should do so. Just understand, there is no scientific evidence to support the claims made by the Academy of Ophthalmology. Contact lens wear is not a risk if you are socially distancing and washing and disinfecting your hands properly.