Eye Protection Required with Continuous Mask for Treating Asymptomatic Patients

Recently, CDC has made a new recommendation to further lower exposure risk from asymptomatic patients. Facemasks with eye protection, particularly when the patient is not masked, lowers exposure risk from asymptomatic patients to low. To align with CDC guidance, VMC is adding “eye protection” to required continuous PPE when entering any patient room or performing patient care tasks, regardless of COVID status, as supplies allow. These can be either goggles or face shields, and they can be worn in more than one patient room for patients not on isolation and disinfected and reused per current process.

Eye protection will not be required in ambulatory settings if the patient is masked or wearing a face shield but will be available if staff choose to wear it. Below are frequently questions and answers (FAQs) about eye protection.

FAQs About Eye Protection

Where do I get this additional eye protection?

Staff whose duties require them to enter a patient’s room can obtain eye protection from their manager or shift lead. Managers must email Distribution leadership to request goggles or face shields and provide a PAR level if needed. Managers must ensure eyewear is available for staff on all shifts. Note that PPE items must be ordered in bulk by department leadership; individuals should not call Distribution for single items.

Does it matter if I use goggles or a face shield?

Either option is effective at reducing your risk. If a face shield is worn as your required eye protection, you will still need to wear your continuous mask. Note that various models of eye shields and face shields may be provided as we are still experiencing supply chain shortages of our standard models. As a result they may not all fit in the mounted eye shield holders.

If I wear prescription eyewear, can I wear that for my eye protection?

No. Prescription eyewear does not provide the same protection as the goggles or face shields VMC provides. There is generally no peripheral coverage.

Do I need to disinfect the eyewear between patient rooms?

No. Unless you are entering an isolation room, or if the eyewear becomes visibly soiled, you do not need to disinfect between rooms.

Is eye protection required for staff who are screening patients, or staff interacting with patients that are not in a patient room?

Short term exposure to asymptomatic patients (approx. 15 minutes or less) when not wearing eye protection is considered to be extremely low-risk, therefore in these settings eye protection is not required. It is available on an optional basis, as supply allows.