[ad_1]
A team of scientists from China suggests that people who wear glasses for more than 8 hours a day may be less susceptible to infection from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The study appears recently in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology.
SARS-CoV-2, a highly infectious and deadly virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is known to be transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets. The main routes of viral transmission include the nose, mouth, and eyes.
In China, more than 80% of the population has myopia, which is a vision disorder that causes distant objects to appear blurry. As a therapeutic intervention to correct vision, most Chinese wear glasses. However, since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in China, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 positive patients in hospitals has been observed to be very low.
This observation encouraged the scientists in the current study to look at whether there was any association between the use of glasses and the risk of COVID-19.
Current study design
The study involved a total of 276 COVID-19 patients who were admitted to Suizhou Zengdu Hospital, China, between January 27 and March 13, 2020. The average age of the study participants was 51 years (range age: 41 – 58 years), and about 56.2% of them were men. About 5.1% of the patients had a severe form of COVID-19.
To fully document eyeglass wearing habits, patients were asked about their reason for wearing them, the daily duration of eyeglass wear, and information on contact lens wear or refractive surgery. Patients who wore glasses for> 8 hours a day were considered long-term wearers. The scientists found that these people wear glasses when they are outside and socialize with people.
To estimate the prevalence of myopia in the general population, scientists collected data from the Research Study on the Physique and Health of Chinese Students, which includes information on the health status of Chinese students in 1985.
Important remarks
Findings from the current study revealed that approximately 10.9% of COVID-19 patients wore glasses; of these, 5.8% had myopia and 5.1% presbyopia (weakening of near vision related to age). Patients with myopia (5.8%) were found to be spectacle wearers for more than 8 hours a day (mean age: 33 years). None of the patients reported wearing contact lenses or having refractive surgery.
In terms of population statistics, an earlier study published in 1987 showed that about 31.5% of Chinese students between the ages of 7 and 22 were myopia. In the current study, the scientists estimated that by 2010, these students had an age range of 42 to 57 years, which is similar to the age range of the current study participants.
These observations indicate that in Suizhou, China (the study region), the prevalence of myopia in the general population (31.5%) is much higher than in COVID-19 patients enrolled in the study (5.8%) , which suggests that people who wear glasses are less likely to acquire SARS-CoV-2 infection.
How can glasses provide protection?
Evidence shows that people who don’t wear glasses unintentionally touch their eyes about ten times an hour. Wearing glasses prevents people from touching their eyes frequently, reducing the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from hand to eye.
According to published literature, about 1% to 12% of COVID-19 patients present with ocular characteristics, such as the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the tears or conjunctival sacs. Mechanically, SARS-CoV-2 can enter the human body by binding to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is very abundant on the ocular surface. Therefore, the use of glasses is likely to have a protective effect by reducing the possibility of viral entry through the eyes.
The findings of the current study highlight the fact that to effectively contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2, people should practice all recommended control measures, such as washing their hands frequently and avoiding touching their eyes with their hands, in addition to wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and following home isolation rules.
Daily eyeglass wearers may be less susceptible to COVID-19.
I recommend that all endoscopists wear glasses during any endoscopy https://t.co/AerljU6LUf– Klaus Mönkemüller, MD, PhD (@KMonkemuller) September 16, 2020
Association of daily use of glasses with # COVID-19 Inf https://t.co/oLKzy6u4QJ @JAMAOphth the proportion of hospitalized COVID-19 patients who wore glasses for prolonged daily periods was ⬇️ than the general population, suggesting that spectacle wearers may be less susceptible to COVID-19.
– Carlos del Rio (@ CarlosdelRio7) September 16, 2020
[ad_2]
