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EYE GOGGLES AND COVID-19.

 

Face shields, eye goggles advised to prevent COVID-19 spread.man wearing a face shield to protect from coronavirus

If you’ve seen a health care provider recently, you’ve probably noticed them wearing a face shield or eye goggles in addition to a mask. 

Do face or eye shields help reduce the spread of COVID-19 virus more than masks alone?

Absolutely, according to the top medical experts on the White House coronavirus task force, Anthony Fauci, MD, and Deborah Birx, MD.

Dr. Fauci: If you have an eye or face shield, use it

On July 29, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and leading expert on COVID-19 told ABC News that if you really want the best protection from the virus, all mucosal surfaces of the face should be shielded — that includes the surface of the eyes as well as the nose and mouth.

Dr. Fauci noted that though eye and face shields aren’t universally recommended at this time, “if you really want to be complete, you should probably use it if you can.”

Dr. Birx: Masks and face shields protect in different ways

The following day, on “Fox & Friends,” Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, also recommended the use of face shields, explaining that masks and face or eye shields protect against the spread of COVID-19 in different ways.

She pointed out that masks are worn primarily to protect others, less for the person wearing the mask. The mask reduces the spray of droplets from the mouth of a person who may not have symptoms of COVID-19 but is carrying the virus and can spread it among others.

On the other hand, eye goggles and face shields provide a physical barrier to protect the wearer from contracting the virus from others and the environment.

Face masks provide a second benefit as well, according to Dr. Birx: They may reduce how frequently a person touches their eyes and nose throughout the day, which also might help reduce the spread of the virus.

SEE RELATED: A face mask reduces coronavirus transmission but doesn't protect the eyes

How COVID-19 spreads through the eyes 

The conjunctiva is a thin, clear mucous membrane that lines the inner surface of the eyelids and the white portion of the eyeball. The conjunctiva is kept moist by our tears.

Like the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth, the conjunctiva can be an entry point for coronavirus into the body.

Once in the conjunctiva and tear film, COVID-19 can be spread to others by rubbing your eyes and transferring the virus to other objects or directly to people with your fingers. 

Also, coronavirus in the eye may spread from your eyes to your nose, throat and lungs. This is because our tears drain from the surface of our eyes into our nose and throat through a small drainage channel called the nasolacrimal duct. (If you pull down your lower eyelid, you can see the small opening of this duct on the eyelid margin near your nose.)

From the nose and throat, the coronavirus can be inhaled into the lungs, causing respiratory distress and other symptoms of the disease.

In some cases, COVID-19 infection can also cause an inflammation of the eye called conjunctivitis. Symptoms of conjunctivitis include redness, swelling and a watery or mucous discharge from the eye.

Culled from allvision

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