COVID-19: Precautions you can take if you use contact lenses

Though it is not yet proved that contact lenses can be a possible transmission medium for COVID-19, lens users, who have a habit of touching or rubbing their eyes, should refrain from doing so and exercise proper personal hygiene.

Hyderabad:Though there is no proper evidence yet that suggests that contact lenses can act as a transmission medium for COVID-19, in these dangerous times, it is advised to exercise utmost precaution.

David Choo, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Rutgers Medical School in New Jersey, said that though there is no evidence suggesting the above, those who use contact lenses may be at the risk of an indirect threat.

Lenses can often be irritating for the eyes, and those who wear them have a tendency to touch and rub their eyes, which is a seriously dangerous threat. If a person touches any surface with active virus on it, there is a danger of contracting the disease by touching the eyes with the same hands.

Hence, it is extremely important to take extreme precautions while removing or putting on lenses.

To exercise hygiene, lens users are advised to wash their hands properly with soap for at least 20 seconds. Only after the hands are properly dried, should one proceed to touch the lenses.

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Follow the instructions of the lens manufacturer and ophthalmologist. The lens should be removed before sleeping. Cleanliness is important during removal and re-use. The contents should be kept in a safe area free from infection.

Though there is no need to switch back to glasses from lenses, those who are most susceptible to the virus, and those who are already infected are better off making the switch.

Although coronavirus is found in tears, it is uncommon, and it is not yet established whether the infection can be spread through tears. Pertinently however, a few studies suggest that pink-eye, or conjunctivitis, is one of the rare symptoms of COVID-19.

Hence, it is advised that the use of lenses be stopped immediately in case of soreness in the eyes. Otherwise, there is an increased risk of corneal abnormalities, infection, and loss of sight.

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