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SAN ANTONIO, Texas—Visionworks, a VSP Global company, will begin reopening locations starting today, April 6, to better serve increased needs for essential and emergency eyecare. The company emphasized it will not be doing routine eyecare. Up to 60 percent of Visionworks locations could reopen in the coming weeks, the company announced last Friday, noting that all will reopen with enhanced safety protocols, including personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees. “Our top priority is the health and safety of our associates, doctors, and the patients we serve, and we have taken all necessary measures to ensure their well-being,” said Pete Bridgman, president of Visionworks. “We continue to see rising needs for essential eyecare, and by reopening we can ensure those needs are safely met and optometrists can help reduce the number of patients seeking eyecare from overwhelmed emergency rooms and hospitals during COVID-19.”

As not all Visionworks locations are reopening, the organization also announced it must reduce a portion of its workforce through employee furloughs for the next 60 days. Furloughed employees will retain their benefits, with Visionworks paying the employee portion of premiums during this time. Additionally, impacted employees will receive assistance from Visionworks in expediting unemployment claims to help them access benefits.

“Like so many other organizations, we continue to face significant economic challenges and impact from COVID-19,” added Bridgman. “We understand what an incredibly painful decision this is. Ultimately, it was necessary to ensure the viability of our operations and our ability to weather this difficult economic storm, while also allowing our doctors to continue providing essential eyecare and relieve demand on emergency rooms at this critical time. It is our goal to welcome back as many of our impacted Visionworks family as possible in the months ahead.”

Visionworks previously announced the temporary closure of locations due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 20, as VMAIL reported. Following the temporary closure, Visionworks said it activated a telehealth offering to connect patients and doctors. To date, nearly 3,500 patients—from first responders to nurses and others in need of care—have utilized the offering. Through the free video or phone consultation, doctors evaluate how best to meet urgent patient eyecare needs.

As health care providers, optometrists were recently included as essential critical infrastructure workers as part of guidance from the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Visionworks' announcement noted.

Visionworks serves customers through more than 700 locations in nearly 40 states and the District of Columbia.