Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 10:00 PM

Dear GOA member,

Earlier this week, Governor Brian Kemp reached out to the Georgia Optometric Association for guidance on how to safely reopen optometry practices in our state. The GOA executive board and I worked late into the night to properly develop guidelines and provide counsel on how to best protect the health and safety of all Georgians in regards to optometry. Today, he issued the following clause within his Reviving a Healthy Georgia executive order:

"That, effective immediately, in addition to compliance with the guidelines for Critical Infrastructure, licensed optometrists and their staff that continue in-person operation during the effective dates of this Order shall adhere to the American Optometric Association's Practice Reactivation Preparedness Guide and the Georgia Optometric Association's COVID-19 guidelines for practices issued March 17, 2020 and updated April 20, 2020 . Any previous executive order or departmental rule which would prevent optometrists from providing the full scope of their services subject to the above requirements is hereby suspended."

The GOA executive board and I would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Governor Kemp and his office for communicating with the organization for guidance on optimal care for the public with respect to eye care needs. We were honored to be included in conversations to help protect Georgians as we all begin to take the next steps forward. 

At time of publication, practices are able to reopen fully to see patients, however, the CDC still recommends postponing routine eye care. The GOA will continue to alert our members when new recommendations from the CDC are made public.

Providing you with the education, information and resources you need to serve your patients remains our number one priority. The GOA is committed to providing you with vital information during this time of uncertainty.

Thank you for all that you are doing for your patients, for your community, and for our profession during this public health emergency. If you have any questions or concerns, please let do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Sincerely,








Mehrdad E. Saadat, O.D.
GOA President