Volk News

New Accessories from Volk that are Must Haves in any Clinic!

Doctors of Optometry are one group of healthcare professionals that have been affected the most due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation witnessed new guidelines and procedures to keep patients and doctors safe and will continue to do so throughout the course of this year even as vaccines are deployed. Volk Optical has released two products to enable doctors to continue examining patients efficiently and safely.

The Volk ClearPod 

Volk Optical released their newest product, the ClearPod to solve the problem of mask-related fogging during fundus examinations. This patent-pending design has been created in collaboration with ophthalmologists Dr. Bradley Sacher, a cataract specialist, and Dr. Jeremy Wingard, a glaucoma specialist at Wheaton Eye Clinic, Illinois, USA. Due to safety regulations around the world, mask-wear has truly become commonplace in shared spaces such as clinics and hospitals. When a patient breathes naturally while wearing a mask, air escapes through the gaps in the mask and accumulates on the lens surface causing condensation and obstructing views of the retina and slowing down the exam. The ClearPod clips securely onto the Volk fundus lens and forms a barrier, directing air currents away from the lens surface allowing for clear uninterrupted views enabling a complete examination. Small and light, the device is designed to allow physicians to retain their natural grip on the lens. The shield on the device is carefully designed to accommodate the right working distance while providing maximum fog diversion.

“The ClearPod has been incredibly beneficial for both our students and providers in a variety of practice settings. We are impressed with how simple it is to insert and remove lenses from the ClearPod. Additionally, the device is easy for anyone to hold behind the slit lamp and provides an accurate working distance for examination. The ClearPod exceeded our expectations in terms of limiting fog formulation on diagnostic lenses and has greatly improved image quality,” says Dr. Timothy Bossie, Director of Owned Clinics & Outreach Services at the New England College of Optometry, MA, USA.

Apart from solving the problem of fogging, the ClearPod can also be used as an aid for new students learning ophthalmoscopy. “Even after COVID, I think this is a great tool for teaching medical students and residents ophthalmoscopy techniques, as the flange guides and supports to better accommodate the proper working distance. The ClearPod is a perfect solution to prevent non-contact lenses from fogging up. I strongly recommend this device to every ophthalmologist examining a mask-wearing patient, allowing a normal examination of the retina.” says Dr. Francesco Comacchio, an ophthalmologist at Hospital of Merano-Südtirol, Italy. The ClearPod is currently available for the 90D and the 78D lenses. Volk optical plans to release the ClearPods for their Digital Wide Field and SuperField lenses early this year.  You can purchase the ClearPod on volk.com or email volk@volk.com to place your orders.

Volk Face Shields

Volk’s reusable, sturdy face shields are the perfect solution for clinical staff that are on the move all day long. Designed with utility and robustness at the forefront, Volk’s reusable face shields are engineered to withstand the intense wear and tear of a busy day. Engineered with strong, impact-resistant polycarbonate sheets and riveted for stability, these face shields eliminate the worry of equipment breakdown and save you from constantly re-ordering generic face shields. Not only are these face shields durable but are also carefully constructed with lightweight materials to provide comfort during long periods of use, without the need to frequently adjust or reposition the shield during procedures. Moreover, these face shields continue to keep the dedicated manufacturing employees of Volk in Ohio, USA gainfully working during this pandemic downturn while also supporting other domestic component suppliers.

 "These are amazing, so strong and durable and much better than the ones we had before which were flimsy and already broken. Everyone is so excited and happy to have these!" says Janett Perez, RN at Maimonides Medical Center, New York. Made with medical grade, non-absorbent materials, these face shields can be easily cleaned and reused while maintaining product quality, clarity and functionality. All Volk face shields are manufactured as per FDA’s requirements for Emergency Use Authorization. You can purchase your face shields at volk.com or email us at volk@volk.com for more information.