AAO Releases Statement Addressing the Reopening of Ophthalmology Care

In a letter to its membership, American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) CEO David W. Parke II, MD, stated that now is the time to consider the process of reopening ophthalmology care—on a local and regional basis.

“While the Academy made a national recommendation to curtail ophthalmic practice, the decisions to reopen more normal practice will be local and regional. They will be based on local and state governments, on public health authorities interpreting local patterns of disease, on testing availability, on institutional policies and ultimately on individual ophthalmologists. While we closed routine practice nationally, we will open locally,” the statement reads.

In the ensuing weeks, AAO will issue guidance detailing specifically how to approach and manage some of the key decisions in reopening more normal practice in the COVID-19 era.

The full letter can be found on the AAO website by clicking here.