Eye Protection and the Risk of Coronavirus Disease 19

Transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the pathogen that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), continues in many countries and communities around the world. Until 1 or more effective vaccines or therapeutic agents are available, basic infection prevention measures, such as universal masking, physical distancing, and hand hygiene, offer the best known protection against the disease. In health care settings, eye protection is an important part of the personal protective equipment (PPE) ensemble recommended for frontline health care personnel who come into close and prolonged contact with patients, including those who are infected with SARS-CoV-2. Eye protection, such as goggles or a face shield, used with a mask or respirator that covers the nose and mouth protects health care personnel ’s eyes and mucous membranes from the virus, which can be transmitted by virus-containing respiratory droplets, possibly by airborne viral particles in smaller droplet nuclei, or by touching one’s face or eyes with virus-contaminated hands. To date, however, public health guidelines do not recom mend that members of the public, outside of the health care setting, wear any type of eye protection in addition to a wearing a mask, physical distancing, and hand washing.
Source: JAMA Ophthalmology - Category: Opthalmology Source Type: research