COVID-19 and Contact Lens Wear 




Should I switch to glasses from contact lenses? Will I get COVID-19 from wearing contact lenses? 

Source: r/optometry  Credit: keratoconusgroup 


The Cornea and Contact Lens Society of Australia recently released a position statement about this issue on 9th April 2020. "There's currently no evidence to suggest an increased risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes the disease known as COVID-19 through contact lens (CL) wear." https://www.cclsa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/CCLSA_Position_Statement_07042020V8_v2.pdf

The American Optometric Association have also stated that contact lenses themselves will not give you COVID-19. https://www.aoa.org/covid-19-patient-resources/contact-lens-wear-during-covid-19


During this pandemic, regardless of wearing soft or rigid lenses it's even more important at this moment to practice good contact lens hygiene and common sense. As practitioners, we know that there is a history and continuing challenge of significant non-compliance with proper hygiene among CL wearers. Research has shown up to 50% of CL wearers do not wash their hands (1, 2) which is a shocking statistic. It is critically important that the general public pays attention to proper hygiene and for practitioners to reinforce this. The CCSLA has suggested this be done during consultations, via text, email, social media etc. 

Hand washing is critical! We've heard it in the media and all over the news but hand washing is critically important. Handling the lenses with dirty hands is a major source of contamination (1) and can be easily avoided. 

How to handwash

Thoroughly wash and dry hands before handing lenses including insertion, removal and handling any contact lens cases.


Cease contact lens wear if sick
If you are feeling unwell, in particular to any signs or symptoms of colds, flu, respiratory tract infections, red sore eyes, discharge etc. the advice remains to stop contact lens wear. This advice has been around before COVID-19 but is even more critically important now during COVID-19. 
For those who cannot function without contact lenses and vision is not great with glasses, the CCSLA has advised to please contact your optometrist to seek specific advice. 

If you are healthy, normal contact lens wear can be maintained.


Best practice for contact lens wear (from current advice of CCLSA 09/04/2020)
  • Contact lens wear is safe and can be maintained by healthy individuals.
  • Contact lens wear does not appear to increase the risk of developing COVID-19, compared to spectacle lens wearers, or those with normal vision who do not need any corrective devices. To date we are unaware of any research suggesting such a link or risk.
  • It should also be noted that contact lenses provided by leading manufactures are manufactured in sterile conditions and the lenses are safe to wear. The majority of contact lenses provided on the market are in a state ready for wear. Customised lenses should be disinfected before use.
  • Contact Lenses obtained from dubious sources, including counterfeit lenses and those offered through unlicensed premises and providers should be avoided as these may not be sterile or safe to wear.
  • Always seek professional advice and consult with your eye care provider. In these troubled times it may be best to call ahead before making an appointment.
  • In case of emergency visit your nearest eye hospital or clinic.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, face, nose and lips as far as possible and avoid eye rubbing.
  • There are a few basic messages we can apply to contact lenses.
    • Your eyes should ‘Look Good’, ‘See Good’ and ‘Feel Good’.
    • If in doubt, take them out and seek professional assistance.

This article written by Jones et al (2020), "The COVID-19 pandemic: Important considerations for contact lens practitioners" is also a good read. 

TL;DR: Wash your hands! Don't touch your face if you can avoid it! Contact lenses are safe to wear IF you are healthy. Contact lenses will NOT give you COVID-19.


Resources:
1. Mowrey-McKee, M.F., Sampson, H.J. and Proskin, H.M. (1992) Microbial contamination of hydrophilic contact lenses. Part II: Quantitation of microbes after patient handling and after aseptic removal from the eye. CLAO Journal 18, 240–244.
2. Fonn, D., & Jones, L., (2019) Hand hygiene is linked to microbial keratitis and corneal inflammatory events. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, 42 (2) , 132-135, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clae.2018.10.022.
3. Cornea and Contact Lens Society of Australia
4. American Optometric Association
5. Lyndon Jones, Karen Walsh, Mark Willcox, Philip Morgan, Jason Nichols, The COVID-19 pandemic: Important considerations for contact lens practitioners, Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, 2020