7 Tips for Proper Contact Lens Wear During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Amid  this COVID-19 pandemic, safeguarding our health is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends taking extra precautions when putting our hands anywhere near our faces, so what’s a contact lens wearer to do?  And are they at increased risk of exposure?

According to the CDC, there is currently no evidence to suggest that contact lens wearers are at a greater risk of acquiring COVID-19 than eyeglass wearers. Even though there isn’t any evidence of increased risk of transmission, it continues to be important to maintain safe and healthy contact lens wear and hygiene(1).

The CDC and American Optometric Association (AOA) have provided guidelines to encourage safe and healthy hygiene habits for contact lens wear. Following are  seven of these guidelines.

7 Healthy Habits Contact Lens Wearers Should Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic

1. Wash your hands

• Always wash your hands with soap and water before handling any lenses.
• Each time before contact lens application or removal, it’s best to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.

2. Remove contact lenses before sleep

• It’s generally recommended to remove any contact lenses before going to sleep
• Chances of eye infections increase by 6 to 8 times if contact lenses are not removed before sleep

3. Keep contact lenses away from water (e.g. swimming or showering)

• Outside sources of water can introduce germs to contact lenses and your eyes

4. Clean and take care of contact lenses and case properly

• If wearing contact lenses other than daily disposables, make sure to use contact lens disinfecting solution to clean your contact lenses each time you remove them as well as to clean the case itself.
• Always use fresh contact lens disinfecting solution in your case.
• Replace the contact lens case once every three months.

5. Discontinue wear if sick

• If showing any signs of cold or flu-like symptoms, contact lenses should not be worn.

6. Follow proper wearing schedule

• Any modality of contact lenses should be worn in accordance with said modality and its prescription to reduce the risk of infection or overuse.
• If your contact lenses are expired or near expiring, contact your eye care professional(3) to help ensure you get additional supply or if it’s time for your regular eye exam.

7. Talk with your eye care provider

• Whether you’re thinking about wearing contact lenses for the first time or have questions regarding an existing contact lens prescription, it’s always good to talk with your eye care provider to discuss your contact lens care habits, questions and concerns. 

For tools to educate your patients on healthy contact lens wear in your office or online, check out this article. 

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Sources:
1. Coronavirus (COVID-19) frequently asked questions. (2020, April 22). Retrieved May 4, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#How-to-Protect-Yourself
2. Protect Your Eyes. (2020, April 9). Retrieved May 4, 2020 from https://www.cdc.gov/contactlenses/protect-your-eyes.html
3. Contact lens wear during COVID-19. (2020, April). Retrieved May 5, 2020, from https://www.aoa.org/covid-19-patient-resources/contact-lens-wear-during-covid-19