With all the news about washing your hands, wearing masks, and not touching your face, you may not have heard how your eyes can be a gateway for contracting COVID-19. Mucous membranes are tissues that line many of the body’s cavities including your nostrils, mouth, and eyes. These membranes are how the coronavirus finds its way into your system leading to a viral infection.
Experts agree that the coronavirus is spread from one person to another primarily through respiratory droplets. These droplets found in mucous and saliva consist mostly of water that houses various inclusions. They can be produced by breathing, talking, sneezing, and coughing. The current COVID-19 is thought to mainly be spread through sneezing and coughing, but the new recommendation for everyone to wear a mask is covering all the bases.
The jury is still out on whether or not you can contract coronavirus by touching a surface that has the virus on it and then touching a part of the body that may give it access, such as the eyes. With this being a chance, however, the CDC is still recommending that you avoid touching your eyes and washing your hands regularly for a minimum of 20 seconds.
You may have seen images and videos in the media of healthcare workers wearing face shields while treating patients. This is a precautionary measure to reduce the risk of infection through the nose, mouth, and eyes.
There is at least one physician in China who claims to have contracted the virus because he was not wearing eye protection while treating sick patients at a clinic. One eye became inflamed; which was followed by a fever and other typical COVID-19 symptoms. He was eventually diagnosed with the coronavirus.
Eyewear can provide protection for you from the virus. In fact, the American Academy of Ophthalmology has suggested that switching from contact lens to glasses can help you to stop touching your face. Contact lens wearers touch their eyes to put in and remove their lens twice or more a day. According to Dr. Steinemann, a clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, people who wear contact lens touch their eyes and face much more than people who don’t wear contacts.
If you have any concerns or questions about how coronavirus is related to your eye health, speaking to a local and licensed ophthalmologist is the best way to know that you are getting accurate information. Call Palmetto Eye & Laser Center at 864-583-6381 to speak with an eye doctor about your concerns. You can also share your questions through our online contact form.
