Don't touch your eyes- wear protective glasses

Don’t touch your eyes since corona virus can spread through eyes and limiting eye exposure can help. Wear protective glasses.

Though facial mask and hand hygiene is mandatory as a preventive measure against the dreaded corona virus, the virus can also enter the body through eyes. Wearing protective glasses or spectacles reduces the spread of the virus.

Don’t touch your eyes and face too often. The corona virus can spread through eyes and Limiting eye exposure can help. When a sick person coughs or talks, virus particles can also enter through eyes. It can also infected by touching something that has the virus on it and then touching eyes. While facial masks and sanitisers are mandatory as a preventive measure, wearing protective glasses will help to reduce the risk of the virus entering into the eyes.

According to studies, people may touch their face about 20 times in an hour, knowingly or unknowingly. When a person touches an affected surface and then touches the eyes or the face, the virus can enter the body. With spectacles, one can prevent virus droplets from coming in contact with eyes. so it is advisable to wear glasses when you step out of the house, and those who wear contact lenses should switch to glasses immediately. There are ACE receptors on the surface of the eye which act as entry points for the virus. ACE receptors are present in the nose, throat and eyes. The virus will get stuck to the receptor and once it enters the body, it starts multiplying.

Covid-19 positive can have Conjunctivitis:

Coronavirus causes mild to severe respiratory illness. Symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath can show up 2 to 14 days after a person is exposed. Sudies have proved that patients who have contracted the corona virus may have eye problems symptoms. Covid-19 positive can have Conjunctivitis -mild to severe red eyes, excess watering of the eyes and swelling in the white part of the eye. Viral conjunctivitis is known to present with upper respiratory infections (colds, flus, etc.) and may be a symptom of the COVID-19 virus. A recent study of hospitals across China, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found “conjunctival congestion” or red, infected eyes in 9 of 1,099 patients (0.8%) with a confirmed diagnosis of corona virus.

It is important to know that first 38 patients in China 1/3 rd of them presented with eye problems, 80% of symptom free patients have virus in their eyes. Masks cover the nose and mouth but not the eyes. Therefore if you have red eyes get them tested. Wear protective glasses and please get your eyes checked. Dr Li Wenliang who first exposed corona virus to public in China was an eye doctor. (he got it from his patient and died).

Wear protective glasses:

1. It is important for health workers, police personnel, essential service providers and other frontline workers to wear glasses as they are more vulnerable.
2. If people are out in crowded places, it is advisable that they wear protective glasses. But one should not forget hand hygiene and people should avoid touching their faces.
3. It is advisable to those who wear contact lenses should switch to glasses immediately. Those who wear contact lenses keep rubbing their eyes, which can allow the virus to get into the eye. We still don’t know how the virus behaves in the eye, but it is advisable for one to wear glasses.

Some eye care tips for good health:

1. The corona virus may cause pink eye and avoid touching eye discharge.
2. Wear protective glasses or sunglasses to protect eyes from corona as it can shield eyes from infected respiratory droplet.
3. Routine eye care may be delayed during the pandemic
4. Please keep enough eye medicine prescriptions in home.
5. Avoid rubbing or touching your eyes. If you must touch wash your hands.
6. Practice safe hygiene and social distancing.