Looking at labs: Emergency dispensing

In the wake of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, optical practices across the UK are providing only essential and urgent eye care. In order to effectively dispense emergency eyewear or carry out complex repairs, most practices are reliant on labs providing assistance in difficult circumstances. Optician surveys a sample of UK labs about the services they are offering and the challenges involved.

Across the board, safety was paramount with labs going to great lengths to protect their own employees, practice staff and patients. These include providing personal protective equipment where appropriate, observing social distancing in the work place, disinfecting to avoid contamination and cleaning products upon arrival and prior to dispatch.