Everything you need to know about contact lenses during the coronavirus pandemic

Unlearning the habit of constantly touching your face is something we're all trying to get to grips with during the new coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).

But, if you wear contact lenses, touching your eyes isn't just a habit, it's necessary. Many of us contact lens and glasses wearers have some burning questions about keeping ourselves safe during the pandemic. But there's also quite a lot of myths and misinformation out there on this topic.

So, what should you do? A new peer-reviewed report by five prominent ocular scientists answers some of the most pressing concerns and questions you might have about eye care. Those experts include Lyndon Jones and Karen Walsh from the University of Waterloo in Canada, Mark Willcox from the School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW, Sydney, and Jason Nichols from the University of Alabama, U.S., and Philip Morgan from the University of Manchester, UK.

The paper, published in Contact Lens & Anterior Eye, aims to reassure contact lens wearers with facts and advice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Should you stop wearing contact lenses completely? If you become unwell, can you carry on wearing contacts? Do your glasses offer you any protection? Here's what the experts recommend.

Wearing contacts does not make you more vulnerable

Good news for contact lens wearers, you can carry on wearing your lenses as usual. According to the paper, there is "no evidence that contact lens wearers are more likely to contract COVID-19 than spectacle wearers."

The report does caveat that the lack of evidence could be due to the newness of COVID-19. "It could be argued that COVID-19 is so new that such data would not yet exist. However, the lack of evidence from previous outbreaks of coronavirus disease, including SARS, suggests that the risk of developing COVID-19 from contact lens wear is low," it reads.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) echoes this statement on its website, stating that lens wearers should "continue to practice safe contact lens wear and care hygiene habits."

If you are sick, stop using contacts

If you do develop COVID-19 symptoms, the paper recommends you stop wearing contact lenses.

"If a patient were to develop COVID-19 any contact lenses that were being worn at that time should be immediately disposed of as should any remaining disinfecting solutions and contact lens cases that the patient possess, the patient must revert to spectacle lens wear and when fully recovered should recommence wear with a new pair of lenses," reads the study.

Spectacles are not PPE

If you were thinking your glasses might be doubling up as personal protective equipment (PPE), think again. According to the report, regular eyeglasses or spectacles do not protect you against COVID-19.

Maintain good hygiene habits

The paper also recommends thorough hand-washing and drying, as well as taking good care of your contact lenses, and maintaining good lens case hygiene.

UK optician Specsavers has a list of useful hygiene tips for inserting lenses during the pandemic. "We already advise that you replace your case every month and we’d suggest you continue to do this. Remember, each morning you should empty your case of the old solution; rinse your case with fresh solution and then air-dry it upside down on a clean tissue," writes Specsavers' clinical services director, Giles Edmonds, in the post.

The post also notes that using hand sanitiser before inserting your lenses could result in some discomfort. "If you pass alcohol from your hands to your eyes via your lenses, you could end up with discomfort as it could affect your eyes," Edmonds writes. "My advice would be to stick with the soap and water option making sure your hands are thoroughly clean."

In line with guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC, keep unwashed hands away from your face and avoid touching your nose, mouth, eyes with unclean hands.