Newsweek reported on a study that has many people asking, “Can wearing glasses prevent COVID-19?” Oddly enough, they might. Read on to find out more about the evidence behind the study.
Can Wearing Glasses Prevent COVID-19?
The Study
Newsweek cited an investigation into the proportion of glasses wearers with COVID-19 versus the general population of glasses wearers in a specific area. In other words, how many COVID-19 patients were regular glasses wearers, and did the glasses have an effect on virus transmission? The study was published in Suizhou, China, after a study that took place in an area hospital between January 27 and March 13, 2020. Of the nearly 300 COVID-19 patients in the hospital, only 30 were regular eyeglass wearers. The authors wrote: “Our main finding was that patients with COVID-19 who wear eyeglasses for an extended period every day were relatively uncommon, which could be preliminary evidence that daily wearers of eyeglasses are less susceptible to COVID-19.” But how would that work, and what does that mean for you and your family?
How Could Wearing Glasses Prevent COVID-19?
As you probably know, COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets. We release those droplets into the air by coughing, sneezing, talking, and even breathing. Wearing masks dramatically reduces the droplets that we release into the air; however, masks also serve as a barrier, protecting our noses and mouths from droplets released by other people around us. Barriers like face masks are a crucial way to protect yourself from COVID-19 – so it makes sense that glasses would serve as a barrier to prevent droplets from entering your eyes. The authors of the study wrote: “The eyes are considered an important channel for SARS-CoV-2 to enter the human body.” The authors explained that glasses reduced the risk of virus transfer to the eyes in several ways. That includes serving as a barrier and ensuring that glasses wearers don’t touch their eyes, a habit that could spread germs from your hands.
Do I Need New Glasses to Protect Against COVID-19?
The authors of the study wrote: “For daily wearers of eyeglasses, who usually wear eyeglasses on social occasions, wearing eyeglasses may become a protective factor.” So, should you consider getting glasses to protect you from COVID-19? Realistically, if you don’t need corrective eyewear, glasses probably won’t help you much. Instead, you could opt for a full-face protective barrier like a face shield. However, if you utilize corrective eyewear, this study may prompt you to keep your prescription up-to-date and consider wearing glasses instead of contacts for the time being.
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The research doesn’t lie: Glasses may help protect your eyes from respiratory droplets in the air. If you’ve been neglecting your corrective eyewear, now is a great time to check your prescription and make sure your glasses fit your face properly. Schedule an eye exam today to learn more.
Since 1975, the Heffington family has been assisting the Springfield community with top-quality eye care and affordable eyeglasses and contacts. One of the unique features of our family-owned business is that we manufacture lenses at our own laboratory, giving us total control over the service and pricing, and we’re happy to pass our savings on to you. To learn more about our products and services, please get in touch with us online, send an email to [email protected], or give us a call at 417-869-3937 (Optiland location) or 417-882-3937 (House of Vision location). We look forward to hearing from you!