A new peer-reviewed paper from five prominent ocular
scientists will help eye care practitioners (ECPs) instruct and reassure
contact lens wearers during the global COVID-19 / coronavirus pandemic.
Published in Contact Lens
& Anterior Eye, “The COVID-19
Pandemic: Important Considerations for Contact Lens Practitioners” delves into multiple aspects of eye health amidst the
global health crisis, with a specific emphasis on the safe use of contact
lenses.
The paper and related ECP and patient resources can be
accessed from COVIDEyeFacts.org.
“Our findings indicate that contact lenses remain a
perfectly acceptable form of vision correction during the coronavirus pandemic,
as long as people observe good hand hygiene and follow appropriate
wear-and-care directions,” said Dr. Lyndon Jones, director of the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) at the
University of Waterloo and the
paper’s lead author. “Unfortunately, we have seen a number of erroneous reports
regarding contact lenses and spectacles in recent days. Our goal is to make
sure that science-backed truths are understood and shared, helping eye care
practitioners provide accurate, timely counsel to patients.”
Based on the paper, CORE has developed five facts:
- People Can Keep Wearing Contact Lenses. There is currently no scientific evidence that contact lens wearers have an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 compared with glasses / spectacles wearers.
- Good Hygiene Habits are Critical. Thorough handwashing and drying are essential, as well as properly wearing and caring for contact lenses, ensuring good contact lens case hygiene, and regularly cleaning glasses / spectacles with soap and water.
- Regular Eyeglasses / Spectacles Do Not Provide Protection. No scientific evidence supports rumors that everyday eyeglasses / spectacles offer protection against COVID-19.
- Keep Unwashed Hands Away from the Face. Whether people wear contact lenses, glasses / spectacles or require no vision correction at all, individuals should avoid touching their nose, mouth and eyes with unwashed hands, consistent with World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations.
- If You Are Sick, Temporarily Stop Wearing Contact Lenses. Contact lens wearers who are ill should temporarily revert to wearing eyeglasses / spectacles. They can resume use with fresh, new contact lenses and lens cases once they return to full health.
On April 8, the CDC issued updated guidance on contact
lens wear during the COVID-19
pandemic, further supporting key findings from the Contact Lens & Anterior Eye paper. The CDC
additionally points out that personal eyeglasses and contact lenses do not qualify as
personal protective equipment (PPE).
The Contact
Lens & Anterior Eye paper also reviews why management of
adverse events should be retained within optometric systems, offers guidance on
sleeping in contact lenses, considers wearing modalities and lens materials,
and offers areas for further study.
Joining Dr. Jones as paper authors were four globally
respected researchers, educators and clinicians: Dr. Karen Walsh, professional education team leader and clinical
scientist at CORE, Dr. Mark Willcox, director of research at the School of Optometry and
Vision Science at UNSW (Sydney), Dr. Philip Morgan, director of Eurolens Research at the University of
Manchester (United Kingdom), and Dr. Jason Nichols, associate vice president for research and professor
at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry (United States)
and editor-in-chief of Contact
Lens Spectrum.
Click HERE for the full press release.
