You will have seen many news stories in recent days about the spread of coronavirus, or COVID-19, which is currently gaining traction in many countries around the world.
To try and contain the spread of the virus, people are being encouraged to wash their hands frequently and for at least 20 seconds on each occasion. (Not sure what 20 seconds feels like? Singing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice while you wash is a handy way to measure the correct timeframe.)
But you may not be aware of the importance of protecting your eyes, as well as keeping your hands clean.
How is coronavirus spread?
Coronavirus is spread via droplets from an infected person’s coughs and sneezes reaching another person’s mucus membranes, such as their mouth, nose or conjunctiva of the eyes.
Infected droplets could also be passed on through handshakes, or by touching a surface that an infected person has touched. Therefore, even if you have recently washed your hands, it’s important to try and avoid touching your eyes, nose and lips as much as possible, particularly when in public places.
This can present problems for contact lens wearers, who may find themselves needing to adjust or remove their lenses at any time. If you need to touch your lenses, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds first and clean the lenses thoroughly before putting them back in. You may consider wearing a clean pair of glasses for the time being, to avoid the need to touch your eyes at all.
Laser eye surgery – LASIK, LASEK, SMILE and lens replacement surgery – can free you from the hassle and risks of contact lens wear. Anyone who is experiencing any symptoms of coronavirus should defer surgery until they are well again. But if you would like to discuss the many benefits of laser vision correction, get in touch with Laser Eye Surgery Birmingham to find out more.
Image Credit: bostonglobe.com
