Whilst we’ve all been fully clued up on washing and sanitizing our hands and become very good at it, I hope, how many of us have thought about the implications of keeping our glasses clean during this coronavirus crisis. I’ve searched the web and found virtually nothing about it. What I have found speaks to wearing glasses not preventing you from catching COVID-19 except that it may help by preventing us from touching our eyes so easily and often. Remember the virus can enter our bodies through the mucous membranes in our mouth, nose, and eyes; hence the advice to avoid touching our faces. As I’m sure you’re well aware by now this is easier said than done!
Some viruses such as COVID-19 can remain on hard surfaces for hours or even days, which can then be transferred to eyeglass wearers’ fingers and then their faces. In the same way that we need to be vigilant about ensuring our hands are clean and sanitized before we touch our face we should do the same before we touch our glasses. Some people have a habit of taking their glasses on and off during the day whilst others touch them with their hands during wear or worse still chew on the ends of the temples!
Don’t forget that the virus can be transferred to your glasses when you place them on a hard surface or when you handle them, either unknowingly whilst they’re on your face, or when you take them on and off. For this reason, it is very important that not only do we limit touching our eyewear, but when we need to we ensure that our hands have been washed in the appropriate manner.
Presbyopes, those people who wear progressives, bifocal lenses or just straight readers, are all middle-aged and older. Many of them only need their glasses for seeing close by, computers and reading, so are prone to removing them when they’re not necessary. This increases the risk of the glasses being contaminated. The risk is lessened by proper handwashing as mentioned above but also by always placing your glasses in their case and closing it once they’re not on your face. This is standard advice to reduce the chance of damage to your eyewear when not in use but has even a greater significance in the current situation we find ourselves in. This age group is also more vulnerable to being severely affected by COVID-19.
I hope all this shows the importance of cleaning and sanitizing our glasses, which should strictly be done each time our glasses are removed from our faces.
Here’s a great video for reference:
I hope this has brought to your attention something that I have heard little spoken about in terms of reducing the risk of infection by COVID-19. Should you have any queries or concerns please feel free to contact our offices.
Stay Safe
Dr. Aron Wohl