As well as masks and gloves, eyes should be just as adequately protected say doctors
Dubai: While protecting ourselves from COVID-19 with masks and gloves, new studies suggest that we should be covering our eyes as well.
In a study conducted by a team of doctors headed by Dr Elia Duh, at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, US, they examined 10 eyes of deceased patients and five surgical samples of tissue from patients who did not have coronavirus to determine the presence of ACE 2 receptors on the conjunctival surface that coronavirus could latch on to.
Studies are ongoing but the consensus among opthalmologists is that there is a reasonable chance of catching coronavirus through your eyes.
Dr Diljeet Kaur Gahir, specialist ophthalmologist at Prime Hospital, Dubai, reported that a lot of patients testing positive for COVID 19, displayed the classic ‘pink eye’.
“These patients with fever and cold also came in with watery eyes with slightly inflamed conjunctiva like we see in a conjunctivitis infection. Our eyes are known to susceptible to viral infection and there have been residues of other viruses found in the tear and mucous lining of the eyes. The excessive tears get in to the throat and get absorbed into the respiratory tract. So there is a high chance of the infection that may be in the eyes getting into the respiratory tract,” she explained.
Dr Gahir said that Dubai Health Authority (DHA) guidelines were being followed to avoid contraction of infection through the eyes.
Dr Bradley added that as per the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, a proper eye protection such as a full face shield was mandatory for all health care staff and was an intrinsic part of the Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) used in hospitals.
Both Dr Bradley and Dr Gahir advised certain basic precautions for the members of the community. “Apart from face masks and gloves it is important to wear some eye protection to avoid any contamination through the eyes, when one is at a public place like a grocery or a super market,” said Dr Bradley.
Dr Gahir especially cautioned users of contact lenses. “In these times it is advisable to wear an additional zero power eye glass to shield the eyes. Or else, it is advisable for contact lens users to switch to eye glasses for the time being. These are a more effective barrier for the eyes. Besides with contact lenses the chances of irritation to the conjunctiva is likely and users might feel like adjusting their lens or touching their face or eyes, which makes them susceptible to infection,” she explained.
The jury is out on whether eyes are a conduit for the COVID-19 infection and many air travelers on repatriation flights who took all precautions to wear face mask and gloves and still contracted COVID, have given credence to the theory that eyes are another route for infection. So until conclusively proved or disproved, eye specialists advise people to shield the eyes from possible virus contaimnation.
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