New Study: Eyeglass Wearers Five Times Less Susceptible to COVID-19 Infection
New Study from the Journal of the American Medical Association
What is the association between the daily wear of eyeglasses and susceptibility to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)? These new findings suggest that daily wearers of eyeglasses may be 5 times less likely to be infected with COVID-19.
Could wearing glasses decrease the risk of COVID-19? A study found that the proportion of COVID-19 patients who wore glasses significantly lower than the general population. Although the researchers did not examine the mechanism behind this reduction, they hypothesized that wearing glasses discourages individuals from touching their eyes and face. The eye cells have receptors that allow SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to enter the body.
Glasses also serve as a partial barrier that reduces the amount of viral particles similar to what has been observed for cloth masks. Glasses are no substitute for washing hands, social distancing, and wearing a face covering, but these findings suggest that the eye may be an important infection route for COVID-19. Although more research is needed, glasses can protect your eyes from many other things!