Update for COVID-19

By Dr. Hansel M Huang, OD, FCOVD

No one could have expected 2020 to unravel like it has. This was the year of the Optometrist! As you are all aware, on March 16, we closed the doors to our primary care office as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision was difficult but following with guidelines given by the Ministry of Health, College of Optometrists and the Ontario Association of Optometrists, it was the right thing to do. During this time, other than the odd emergency and urgent cases, it was difficult to feel useful as an eye doctor. We did continue with remote vision therapy and I will admit, I was really excited seeing some of the potential that it can deliver, however, being able to physically interact with our patients was missed.

Never in our lifetime have we ever seen anything like this, and it does appear to be life changing. On May 26, optometrists were given the nod to return to their offices and begin helping patients with the care that they provide. On June 8, we will welcome our patients back through our doors at both offices. Please know that we absolutely understand the responsibility that we have to ensure the safety and health of everyone that comes into our offices. We have spent this entire week preparing the office, the protocols and ourselves for the changes that were needed. To understand that COVID-19 is life-changing, you can imagine how it will affect eye exams and our office, as. We move forward together.

That last word, together, is the key. I am sure that we now realize how important “supporting local” has become in a post-COVID-19 world. When I opened this office in 2011, I was met with an amazing group of patients that were eager to help us build this experiment. Now, although in much different circumstances, we return to our base, you, the patients, to adapt and see where this will lead.

We have updated our office policies and these changes have affected from when booking appointments to how glasses are dispensed. You can find the updated policies for the primary care location here and the updated policies for the vision therapy location here. Please understand that all of these changes were made for the safety and health of our patients, office, staff and doctors. Every interaction at the primary care location will be by appointment only. If you have additional questions, please feel free to call our office.

Now, 2020 was supposed to be the year of ascension. Having said that, I still think that we can. With all of the headlines that crawl across our screens lately, it doesn’t seem like we’re doing that great. But we can be great. Together. I am excited to see where this leads. Thank you to everyone and I cannot wait to see you again. Until then stay safe and healthy.

Dr. Hansel M Huang, OD, FCOVD
Executive Board of Vision Therapy Canada (VTC)
Director Trustee/Executive Board of Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF)

Dr. Huang has been practicing in Windsor, Ontario, since 2006, and treats patients from the surrounding area.

He graduated from the NOVA Southeastern University College of Optometry in Florida in 2005, and continues to maintain and improve his educational background in order to provide the best ocular care for patients in Windsor and the surrounding communities.

He has also created a Vision Training Clinic and has given more attention to this growing area are he recognizes the need to helps all patients improve their daily visual needs through visual training exercises at their office. He completed the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF) core Vision Therapy Program and their Aquired/Traumatic Brain Injury Course with Dr. Paul Harris and additionally with Dr. Charles Shidlofsky. He has completed advanced syntonics training with Dr. Stefan Collier (SON 1, 2, 3, and Local/Focal Courses) and completed a Primitive Reflex training with Dr. Carloline Hurst.

He is a Board Certified Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development.

He has seen how profoundly vision therapy has changed the lives of so many of his patients, but he also recognizes how much he has learned from the journey itself. Because of this, he has always wanted to give back to the vision therapy community. He is currently serving on the Executive Board of Directors for Vision Therapy Canada. Also, Dr. Huang is also serving concurrently on the Board of Directors for OEPF.