The efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus have been centered around thoroughly washing hands and keeping your hands away from your face. For contact lens users, the latter is challenging to do, which has brought about a dilemma for some during this viral pandemic.
Is it OK to wear contact lenses during this global health crisis?
The question does not have an easy answer, but some ophthalmology experts have provided some guidance about what to do if you intend to wear contact lenses while the threat of coronavirus persists.
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The American Academy of Ophthalmology shared some tips on eye care earlier this month. The organization provides a few reasons why it's not recommended to continue wearing contact lenses now.
For one, if there’s a need for any changes your doctor would provide, there may be a serious delay. Ophthalmologists and other doctors are being urged not to see patients during the coronavirus pandemic except for urgent or emergency care.
The other reason the academy suggests not wearing them is to avoid the contact with your face that’s been advised as a safety measure against the virus.
“Consider wearing glasses more often, especially if you tend to touch your eyes a lot when your contacts are in. Substituting glasses for lenses can decrease irritation and force you to pause before touching your eye,” Dr. Sonal Tuli, ophthalmologist and spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, said in the release.
The Centre for Ocular Research & Education counters this advice. In a release, the Canadian consortium says the key is hygiene -- not avoiding contact lenses, which are safe to wear when healthy and "highly effective."
“Despite myths and misinformation that have arisen over the past 48 hours, contact lens wear remains a safe and highly effective form of vision correction for millions of people worldwide,” reads a statement from the organization.
Medical experts have not confirmed whether the virus can be contracted simply by touching a surface or object, such as a table or doorknob, that has COVID-19 on it and then touching their mouth, nose or possibly their eyes.
However, since the transmission of COVID-19 comes with so many unknowns, it is best to limit hand-to-eye contact as much as feasible, said Dr. Stephen Thomas, chief of infectious diseases at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York.
For general eye protection during the pandemic, here are some tips from ophthalmology experts across the globe:
Disinfect contact lenses
Contact lens wearers should either dispose of their daily disposable lenses each evening, or regularly disinfect their monthly and two-week lenses according to manufacturer and eye care professional instructions.
Disinfect glasses
Some viruses such as COVID-19 can remain on hard surfaces for hours to days, which can be transferred to spectacles wearers’ fingers and faces.
This especially holds true for those over the age of 40, who may require reading glasses, which are put on and off several times per day.
Stock up on eye medicine prescriptions if you can
Experts advise patients to stock up on critical medications, so that you’ll have enough to get by if you are quarantined or if supplies become limited during an outbreak. But this may not be possible for everyone. If your insurance allows you to get more than one month of essential eye medicine, such as glaucoma drops, you should do so. Some insurers will approve a three-month supply of medication in times of natural disaster.
Avoid rubbing your eyes
We all do it. While it can be hard to break this natural habit, doing so will lower your risk of infection. If you feel an urge to itch or rub your eye or even to adjust your glasses, use a tissue instead of your fingers.
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