MOSCOW, 14 APR — RIA Novosti. Scientists-ophthalmologists from the USA, Canada, UK and Australia published in the journal Contact Lens & Anterior Eye recommendations how to behave during a pandemic COVID-19 those who wear glasses or contact lenses.
In General, all recommendations can be grouped into five points.
First. Contact lenses can be worn. There is no reasonable scientific evidence that users of contact lenses have an increased risk of infection COVID-19 compared to people who wear glasses. The choice between glasses and contact lenses, according to scientists, should be determined by doctor recommendations and personal preferences of each.
Second. If you use contact lenses it is essential to maintain hygiene — wash hands thoroughly, take the lenses with wet hands, ensure proper storage of the lenses and care for them, carry out disinfection of the cases for storage lenses, regular cleaning of glasses, wash them with warm water and soap.
Third. That regular glasses protect against coronavirus — is a myth. No scientific data to support this, no.
Fourth. For those who wear glasses or lenses, the General rule is to keep hands away from face especially important. You should avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes with unwashed hands. On the strict observance of this rule insist the world health organization, the Centers for control and prevention of diseases of the US national organizations of health in other countries.
Fifth. Sick people should be temporarily stop using contact lenses and switch to spectacles. After full recovery you can resume the use of contact lenses, but new and new hard case. Older lenses and cases will need to destroy.
“Our results show that contact lenses are a completely acceptable form of vision correction during a pandemic coronavirus, if people follow the rules of hand hygiene and follow appropriate guidelines for care — presented in a press release quotes first author of the paper Dr. Lyndon Jones (Lyndon Jones), Director of the Centre for Eye research and education at the University of Waterloo in Canada. Unfortunately, in recent days we have seen several error messages on contact lenses and glasses. Our goal is to provide the understanding and dissemination of information based on scientific evidence, helping the practicing ophthalmologists to provide accurate and timely advice to patients.”
the Centers for control and prevention of diseases of the United States put the points contained in the article, the basis of the approved guidelines established at the national level. They confirmed the safety of wearing contact lenses during a pandemic, subject to the rules of hygiene, but also indicates that the personal glasses and contact lenses are not PPE.
as additional recommendations, the authors suggest to defer, where possible, planned visits to the ophthalmologist, in order to reduce the burden on hospitals and minimize the risk of infection, and always remove your contact lenses during sleep.
