How to Protect Your Eyes during the COVID-19 Outbreak

by BonTon Opticians Premium Fashion Eyewear Shop

In the current scenario where the whole world is affected by COVID-19 pandemic, our experts and consultant Ophthalmologist have suggested some simple tips that people can follow to reduce the risk of spreading of this novel coronavirus. Till now it is reported that there are three ways by which COVID-19 can enter into human body – through the eyes, mouth and nose. One of the ways you can protect yourself from COVID-19 is by protecting your eyes. When someone who is sick coughs or sneezes, the virus spreads through the air. While you’re most likely to inhale the virus through your nose or mouth, the virus can still be contracted through your eyes. Follow these simple steps at your home to help reduce the risk of allowing COVID 19 to enter through the Eyes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Eye doctors offer these general guidelines to slow the spread of disease:

Wash your hands repeatedly for at least 20 seconds & encourage others to do the same
You can also use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
Avoid touching and rubbing your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
Stock up on critical medications, so that you'll have enough to get by if you are quarantined or if supplies become limited during an outbreak
If you wear contact lenses, consider moving to eyeglasses for a while. Consider wearing specatcles more often, especially if you tend to touch your eyes a lot when your contacts are in. Substituting glasses for lenses can decrease irritation and force you to pause before touching your eye
Anyone who uses eye drops regularly should consider using a disposable version that only has a daily dose
Avoid close contact with sick people. If you think someone has a respiratory infection, it’s safest to stay 6 feet away
People who wear eye makeup should wash their hands before and after using the cream and should change their mascara regularly so that there is no virus in the container. They should also wash makeup brushes regularly
If your eyes tend to itchy then use a tissue to rub the corner of your eye
Wear premium eyewear when you go outside to shield your eyes from other people’s respiratory droplets. But they don’t provide 100% security
If you cough or sneeze, cover your face with your elbow or a tissue. If you use a tissue, throw it away promptly. Then go wash your hands.
Maintain social distancing, better to stay at home and practice safe hygiene
Regularly disinfect commonly touched surfaces and items in your house, such as doorknobs and countertops.

The American Academy of Optometry and American Optometric Association believe that contact lenses can still be worn safely by those patients as long as strict hygiene is followed.

If you continue to use contact lens, these tips will help you avoid eye irritation or infection:

Don’t wear your contacts for longer than they’re meant to be worn. Replace the contact lenses according to their prescribed replacement schedule. For contact lenses designed to be reused, clean and disinfect the lenses after each use.
Clean them regularly and replace them at the end of their cycle — whether that’s daily, bi-weekly or monthly
Wash your hands with soap and water before putting contacts in and before removing them.
Try to avoid eye contact with water and take your contacts out before showering
NEVER top-off solution. NEVER re-use solution from the case. Replace the solution daily and don’t add water to it
Better to use non-Rub contact lens cleaning solution, then rinse with the solution before soaking them
Don’t sleep in your contacts. Follow your doctor’s recommendations for how long to keep them in.
Don’t use the solution as eye drops. If your contacts are dry, use eye drops made for lubricating your eyes, switch to your glasses or wear a new pair of contacts
Clean your case by rinsing it with solution, then allow it to air dry. Don’t clean your case with water.

Call your ophthalmologist for guidance in the following situations:

· You have macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy and get regular eye injections;

· You notice changes in your vision (like blurry, wavy or blank spots in your field of vision);

· You notice a lot of new floaters or flashes in your vision;

· You suddenly lose some vision;

· You have eye pain, headache, red eye, nausea and vomiting.

We at Bonton Opticians care for you. We are concerned about the safety of our employees, customers, partners and communities. In light of the current COVID-19 situation, we encourage everyone to be safe, informed, prepared and ready to fight against the COVID-19 outbreak. Together we can stop coronavirus. Please stay home and protect your family members.