The use of appropriate hygiene procedures and precautions to prevent exposure to and reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases within the testing area is essential.

Strict hygiene is observed when dealing with patients and particular attention paid to any equipment with which they come into contact.

Equipment is cleaned with a sterile wipe before use by each patient. Similarly, the bridge and sides of trial frames are cleaned anew for each patient.

Items coming into contact with a patient's eye are not reused. Disposable tonometer prisms are used when performing contact tonometry.

Alternatively, in accordance with College of Optometrists guidelines, permanent tonometer prisms may be soaked in 2% sodium hypochlorite (Milton) solution for 60 minutes between uses, although this does not guarantee protection against the transmission of vCJD. Disposable probes are used for each patient when using an I-Care tonometer.

Liquid antibacterial soap and paper towels are avaialble. Alcohol based hand cleansers are used in the absence of soap and water. Fabric towels should not be used.

Diagnostic solutions such as sterile saline or contact lens soaking solutions are clearly marked with the date first used. They are stored with caps on and not used beyond the recommended dates.

Single-dose eye drops such as minims must only be used once and then discarded.

It is the responsibility of our healthcare professionals to comply with these instructions.