Spring has arrived and so has Delta Level 2 of lockdown!

This means that we can 'see' you all again in person! We are passionate about keeping you safe, so please read the points below, as we need your help to action safety measures during these times:

For eyewear and products: 

• Face covering. To keep us all safe, please ensure you are wearing a mask, even for a contactless collection.

• Keeping track. Even for contactless collections, we ask to you please check in using the NZ COVID Tracer App.

• Contactless collection. Wherever possible, contactless is still our mainstay. Please contact your local practice in advance to arrange contactless collection or delivery of any eyewear, contact lenses or products.

• Contactless payment. Wherever possible, we will also still be requesting cashless transactions. When we arrange contactless delivery or collection with you, we can process any remaining balance of your account over the phone with a credit card, or via online banking. We appreciate your assistance with this process. 

For appointments:

• Virtual consultations. Not feeling comfortable to be out and about just yet? Our optometrists are still available for virtual consultations, and can triage your needs to advise if an in-person consultation is required. These appointments will be charged at our usual rates. To book, click here and select "Telehealth Video Consultation". 

• Face covering. To keep us all safe, please ensure you are wearing a mask before you approach the practice and during the entire duration you are on the premises. 

• Hand washing or sanitiser. When you enter the practice, we will ask you to use hand sanitiser or to wash your hands. This is the most effective way to reduce the transmission of germs, and we appreciate your cooperation.

• Keeping track. Please also use the NZ COVID Tracer App and check-in. 

• Personal protection equipment (PPE). Our clinic is closely following the advice of the Ministry of Health, and so we will be using face masks, and only using gloves for certain procedures. However, we understand that you may feel more comfortable that we wear a mask as well as gloves for your entire appointment, and so just let us know, and we will happily oblige. 

• Appointments will run on time. We will be making sure we run on time for your appointment, and we ask that you do the same. If you are late for your appointment, please understand that we may have to either perform a shorter appointment or reschedule your appointment. Having staggered appointments running on time reduces cross-over between patients and allows our practitioners time to perform the disinfection protocols between patients. 

• Please come straight in. If you are on-time for your appointment, please come straight in - we will be waiting for you :) If you are early for your appointment, please wait in your car until your appointment time. This reduces the number of patients in our clinical space and helps with social distancing in our waiting areas. 

• One support person at your appointment. If you require a support person, please bring only one support person to your appointment. Your support person must not be unwell, require isolation, be pregnant, elderly or young. At this time, children are not able to attend your appointment or wait in the waiting area during your appointment. If the appointment is for a child, a parent is encouraged to also attend, but we do ask that only one parent attends, and no siblings or friends please.  

• Bring only what you need. Please bring only what you need for your appointment (your glasses or contact lenses, essentials such as keys, wallet, phone etc.). Please leave everything else behind (backpacks, biking gear, hats, groceries etc.). 

• Namaste. No offence, but we’re not shaking hands, hugging and refraining from physical contact as much as possible. Instead, we may welcome you with a namaste to share a little peace and calm. 

• No fishing stories. We normally love having a chat and getting to know you better. However, at the moment we need to keep socialising to a minimum and limit contact time to only what is necessary. So, no offence, but no fishing stories just for now!

Of course, these measures are in addition to the already stringent hygiene standards we are upholding. We do ask for your help in keeping our community safe. Our clinics regularly care for the elderly, infants and those with complex medical conditions.

We ask you to please take the proper health precautions when visiting our locations, and please reschedule your appointment if you or a family member is either unwell and/or is awaiting a COVID test result. 

We appreciate your support through these difficult times, and we know that we can all get through this together again. 

See you soon, 

The team @ OCULA