“It’s important to remember that although there is a lot of concern about coronavirus, common sense precautions can significantly reduce your risk of getting infected. So wash your hands a lot, follow good contact lens hygiene and avoid touching or rubbing your nose, mouth and especially your eyes,” says ophthalmologist Sonal Tuli, MD, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
According to American Association of Ophthalmology, as we need to concern on eye Protection from COVID-19, one of the ways we can protect ourselves and others is by switching from contact lenses to spectacles. Wearing glasses may add a layer of protection. Although there is no evidence that contact lenses increase the risk of coronavirus infection, but studies shown that contact lens wearers tend to touch their eyes more than the plebeian person.
Corrective lenses or sunglasses can shield your eyes from infected respiratory droplets. But they don’t provide 100% security. The virus can still reach your eyes from the exposed sides, tops and bottoms of your glasses. If you’re caring for a sick patient or potentially exposed person, safety goggles may offer a stronger defense.
“For adequate eye protection against the virus, there needs to be a sufficient seal around the eyes to prevent air flow.” said Dr. Jonathan Naysan, MD, an ophthalmologist and the curator of @eyedoctorny on Instagram.
Though there have been reports (less than 3%) about potential eye transmission from COVID-19 such as conjunctivitis (pink eye). However for individuals who wear contact lenses or spectacles, they are advised to practice good hygiene. Wash and sanitize eyeglasses regularly even if it is not dirty. Always be safe, than sorry.
Thus, we as an optometrist do always concern about your eye health and will keep you update to make sure we are safe from the serious cases.