May 27, 2020

Dear Patient,

We at Dr. Patricia Fink & Associates and Halton Vision Therapy Centre are continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and want to assure you our priority is the health and safety of our patients and staff. We are following advice provided by the Canadian and provincial health officials and making sure our clinic has taken extra precautionary measures to reduce the risk of transmission. We are now able to return to routine eye care with proper disinfecting procedures and PPE in place.

Our Standard Operating Procedures have changed to comply with the requirements of our regulatory body, The College of Optometrists of Ontario.

• Only patients with appointments may enter the office. The appointments have been staggered to provide physical space. The appointment times have been increased to provide time for additional sanitation.
• All appointments will be pre-screened to insure they are symptom free. A history and information will be taken by phone or email to limit the time in office.
• Upon entry, hand sanitation is required. Hand sanitizers are located throughout the clinic. Additional sanitization procedures for all areas within the clinic that come into high contact, including but not limited to, phones, desks, door handles, payment terminals, chairs etc are in effect.
• Masks are mandatory for distances inside of 6 feet/2 meters. This includes the pretest room, the exam room and measurements for glasses.
• The 6 foot/2 meter distance is marked for chairs with a green check mark. A green line indicates the distance from the front desk. Different markings on the floor will be used to direct you through the office. The exam lanes are marked 1,2,3; the dispensing area has a triangle, checkout has a square.
• Approach the front desk on check in using the plexiglass dividers. Please only address the staff if you are behind this divider if you are not wearing your mask.
• Limiting touch points in the office is essential. Limiting the use of the rest rooms, limit chair hopping, wandering the office, etc.
• Individual appointments. Only if you require assistance should another person be with you at your appointment. Families, we are limiting 2 people at one time to respect this regulation.
• Limited amount of equipment may be used during integration. Automated field analysis, topography, diopsys, contact lens fittings and teachings may need to be rescheduled until the protocol changes. Retinal imaging will be done for documentation and to limit exposure for the doctors. Dilated eye examinations will only be conducted if there is clinical evidence to do so.
• Sanitizing equipment and tools after each use between patients.
• Imposing mandatory self-isolation for all clinic staff and Optometrists who have traveled outside of the province, have been in contact with someone who has traveled outside of Canada or the province.
• Removing all frequently used, and not easily cleaned items in our waiting room such as magazines, toys, and brochures.
• Masks are used by staff that are within the 6 foot/2 meter working distance of a patient. This includes the pretest room, the exam room, and measurements for eyeglasses.
• Eye shields may be used when in close contact as well.
• Gloves are used by the doctors if they need to touch or manipulate your lids. Hand sanitization is done before and after all touch points by the examiners. Gloves may be used by staff when handling your glasses or making adjustments.
• All frames are cleaned and dried before being placed back on the display. All frames that have been touched need to be placed on the ledge in order to go through the cleaning protocol.
• Health assessments and follow ups will be done by telemedicine. If the telemedicine appointment indicates an in office visit, the on call doctor will provide for this.
• Contact lens orders will be direct ship. Contact lens pick ups, if needed, are by appointment only.
• All glass orders need to book an appointment for pick up.

For the safety of our community, if you have you are experiencing any symptoms such as a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or have traveled or been in contact with individuals who have traveled outside of Canada, or have concerns with your health, we kindly request that you contact us to reschedule your appointment.

Your eye health is important to us and we are available to support your vision needs. Our clinic will be open starting June 1, 2020:

Monday to Friday 9 am-5 pm for eye examination appointments
Saturday 9 am–1 pm for eye examination appointments
Tuesday & Wednesdays: 5:30 pm – 8 pm eyewear/eyeglass pick-up appointments
Saturday 1:30 pm-5pm eyewear/eyeglass pick-up appointments

As the situation continues to evolve, we are closely monitoring and adjusting our procedures to ensure we follow the latest health guidelines. Should you have any questions please email us at info@drfink.ca or call 905-319-1066.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patricia S. Fink
Optometrist
Dr. Patricia Fink & Associates
Halton Vision Therapy Centre

This is definitely one of my pet peeves. Schools or school boards that encourage school vision and hearing screenings vs the parents taking their children to see the optometrist or the audiologist on their own time.

As a parent, it sounds convenient when a school form comes around to sign our child up to have a vision screening with a hearing test for a cost of $25-$35 depending on the school. Your child gets pulled out of the classroom, gets placed in a line and goes through a screening, which is not a full evaluation. I can only speak on behalf of the visual portion of these screenings and will not comment on the auditory component of these screenings.

If the child fails the screening, they are recommended to see an optometrist for an OHIP insured examination. OHIP insures children’s eye examinations up to and including 19 years of age. This is part of our taxation system, so you pay into this whether you use it or not. A visual assessment with an optometrist is far more detailed and extensive than the visual screening performed at the schools.

I often see siblings from these visual screenings. One has passed the screening and the other has failed it. Most often the one that has passed the screening actually has visual issues that need to be addressed and the one that failed it is fine.

What is the purpose of pulling children out of class in an educational setting, having them stand in the hallways waiting their turn to be screened that often is inaccurate and imprecise? What can this child be learning in a school setting instead of going through this process?

I can appreciate that this is convenient for the parents. They do not need to take time out of their schedule to do this screening. However, the misperception is that a full visual assessment has been done when a screening doesn’t even come close. There is no health assessment, minimal binocular assessments and no refractive analysis at all. Up to a +4.00 to a -1.00 prescription can easily be missed in these kids which may create some significant learning related vision issues. What is the cost of missing significant health, eye teaming or refractive issues for having it convenient within the school system?

Personally, I wish the schools and school boards would consider requiring a full eye examination by a qualified health professional prior to entering JK and every year after that. I do feel that the students would be far better served to be educated while at school rather than taking time out of their education for a screening that gives the misperception that things may be ok when they are not. What is the cost to your child’s education for sub-optimal eye care or years of a missed vision diagnosis that could actually have assisted your child’s learning?

— Patricia Fink, BSc., O.D., FCOVD

Dr. Patricia Fink Optometry and Halton Vision Therapy Centre are saddened and excited to announce Dr. Shirley Ha’s journey into a new optometry opportunity. We are sad to see her go and excited for her future with Eyecarrot Innovations Corporation.

When Dr. Ha inquired years ago to see if she could practice a few hours a week at my practice to learn more about vision therapy, it was a seamless transition. Dr. Ha’s interest in learning and continued zest for adventure placed us on an exciting journey which included studying and completing our FCOVD together and helping to get the non-profit organization, Vision Therapy Canada, off the ground. As one of the prominent Vision Therapy Clinics in Canada, it was a pleasure having Dr. Ha be part of the team. Her integrity and knowledge will serve Eyecarrot Innovations Corporation well and I am excited to see what advances her involvement with this organization will procure for VT in Canada.

Dr. Patricia Fink, BSc., OD, FCOVD

Below is Dr. Ha’s message:

Dear Valued Patients, Doctors, Staff and Vision Therapists:

After nearly eight years, It is not without sadness that I tendered my departure and my last day at Dr. Fink Optometry and at Halton Vision Therapy will be January 31, 2020. I am pursuing other interests and have accepted a position at Eyecarrot Innovations Corp. in Oakville, Ontario. In order to maintain my professional license with the College of Optometrists of Ontario, I will continue to be in private practice sporadically, and provide further information to this in the future.

To my patients: Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your trust, support and loyalty over the years; in particular those who travelled long distances to see me for your eye examinations. You are in very good hands with any of the optometrists in this organization and the transfer of care will be seamless. I wouldn’t be the Optometrist I am today without learning from you all – you are my best teachers.

To the Doctors: I thank everyone for your support, encouragement, understanding and collegiality over the years. I know Dr. Fink and all the optometrists in this organization have the same passions as me – to provide stellar eye and vision care to their patients and to leave deeper footprints for the profession of Optometry in the months and years ahead. I will forever treasure this priceless experience and the numerous newfound friendships.

To the Staff and Vision Therapists: It has been an extraordinary honour and privilege to work with each and every one of you. Your commitment, enthusiasm and energy are contagious and they are what drive patients to return. I am truly grateful to have been part of a terrific and talented team of really dedicated people.

Wishing you all the very best,

Shirley Ha, HBSc., OD, FCOVD