OPTICAL PRISM | NEWS
How COVID-19 is affecting independent clinics By David Goldberg
Eye care professionals around the world are getting back to business , but it ’ s not business as usual .
The COVID-19 pandemic forced clinics and shops to close up for months on end . At least one study done in Ontario , Canada by the OAO reported that revenues were down 75-80 % as clinics were relegated to dealing with customers on an emergency basis only .
Ryan Horne operates SPEX By Ryan in Regina , Saskatchewan and he says while the initial shock of what happened was hard to shake off .
“ The time leading up to shutting down March 18 was very slow and ominous ,” says Horne . “ Then it all stopped . After 10 days of being closed , I returned behind closed doors to help those in need of repairs and replacements , which provided some income that really helped . The lost revenue was significant .”
Some clinics were in a position to stay open , at least with limited hours . One of these was St . Clair Eye Clinic in Toronto , owned and operated by Dr . Neel Vyas .
“ We made the decision to remain open during the pandemic for urgent care ,” says Dr . Vyas . “ We were open two days a week and saw 5-15 patients weekly . There were some regulars but about half were new because they had nowhere else to turn at the time .”
By the end of March it was clear that this was the new normal for eye care professionals around the world and the only way to survive was to adapt .
Rachel Hill from Personal Optical in St . Catharines , Ont ., says while her clinic always practiced top notch hygiene , the new reality made her realize how imperative it was to make the customer feel safe and let them see this process first hand .
32 OPTICAL PRISM | October 2020