By: Ashikin
15.4.2020
Photo Credit: Neoretina
As the country faces the situation of Corona Virus, the Ministry of Health has reminded the public to always be vigilant and take preventive measures. This is because the outbreak of Covid-19 is very high-risk and can be infected through the touch and drops of water such as sneezing and its kind.
Reflect on this, the world-wide lens users should be vigilant and avoid wearing a contact lens in this Covid-19 season. In a report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the use of spectacles is the right choice and will help the public to avoid the infection of the virus.
The use of contact lens is more risky because often users will often touch the eyes and thus can cause the risk of infection from the touch of the hands contaminated to the touch of the lens and to the eyes of the user.
According to the info, the use of spectacles can not only reduce the risk, but it can also provide extra protection to eyes from the water drops that contain viruses.
As such, the world-wide lens users should be vigilant and avoid wearing a contact lens in this Covid-19 season. In a report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the use of spectacles is the right choice and will help the public to avoid the infection of the virus.
In addition, apart from avoiding the use of contact lenses, users are also advised to regularly wash their hands, take care of the social distances, do not hold face, eyes and mouth as these things are likely to expose to each individual to the infectious disease of Covid-19.
Here are the recommendations and guidance given by the American CDC for all the users of a contact lens:
1) Your Habits
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Wash your hands before holding a contact lens. After washing your hand, make sure you wipe your hand in dry before holding the lens. This is because microbial cause’s eye infections can be found in the water.
Do not sleep while wearing a contact lens, except for the recommendation of the eye experts. Studies find that when you sleep with the lens, the risk of getting a cornea infection called Microbial Keratitis becomes 6-8 times higher. The lenses with new technologies that are said to be worn for longer periods also have the same risks.
Avoid water-exposed lenses. This is because the lens is also a factor to the Acanthamoeba Keratitis infection which is due to the Amoeba living in water. Although these infections are quite rarely found, but avoid bathing, soak or swim using a contact lens.
2) Your Contact Lens
Photo Credit: Association of Optometrists
Wash and rub the contact lens using multipurpose solution when left. DO NOT USE COMMON WATER OR SALIVA WATER. Also you must scrub the lens with a clean finger because soaking alone does not eliminate the bacteria that attaches on a contact lens.
Do not soak in water contact lens. This is for the same reason mentioned earlier as the risk of Acanthamoeba Keratitis infection.
Remove the lens and replace it with a new one according to the duration recommended by your eye specialist. Although there has not been a comprehensive study on the risk of not replacing this contact lens, the survey made found that an individual not in accordance with the replacement of the Contact lens reported to have complications, the eyes being blurred and discomfort.
3) Your Contact Lens Case
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Wash and rub the container of the contact lens using multi-purpose solution, just like you wash a contact lens. This is because there is a transparent layer of containers called Biofilm and studies find it can be a place of Microscopic with the use of eye infections.
According to the American Optometric Society, you have to replace the container lens every three months.
4) Your Contact Lens Solution
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Do not top up solution by mixing old solution and new solution in the container. This is because the solution that already submersed in the container is risky infected from the container and the contact lens itself. The biofilm layer in the container makes the solution less effective in killing germs. So, always use the new solution to store the contact lens.
Only use the solution recommended by your eye specialist. An optometry specialist will make recommendations based on patient eye and its background. This is because it is likely that your eyes or the purchased Contact lens is not compatible with a material in that solution.
If you willing to change your brand or solution type, make sure to read in advance of the guide and the insertion included with the product before it is used.
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Lastly, if you are a short-sighted, do not forget to bring your spectacles wherever you go as a backup plan.
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SOURCES:
Sandee LaMotte (2020), Do you wear contact lenses? You should switch to glasses to stop spreading the virus. Retrieved from: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/27/health/contact-lens-glasses-coronavirus-wellness/index.html