“Snow goggles can theoretically protect you because coronavirus can enter through the mucous membranes of the eyes,” explains Abisola Olulade, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician. “If someone coughs or sneezes and it comes into contact with your eyes, this could lead to COVID. If someone touches a surface that has coronavirus and then touches their eyes, this could potentially cause infection of the membranes of the eye.” According to Olulade, the coronavirus has been found in tears and other conjunctival secretions, which means the virus could be carried down into the tear ducts and then into the nasopharynx and the lungs. The most recent study outlining the probability of COVID transmission through the eyes is an August meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb In their review, researchers pointed directly to a study that found the main risk factor among a group of medical staff members who were infected to be the lack of protective goggles. According to the study, only 1 percent of those wearing eye protection were infected with COVID, compared to 8 percent of those who were not wearing eye protection. “Although it seems that the likelihood of the ocular surface being an infection gateway is low, SARS-CoV-2 infection or transmission via the ocular surface may cause conjunctivitis and other ocular discomfort. Therefore, good eye protection is an essential safeguard procedure,” the August review stated. Seamus Flynn, an optometrist and owner of eyewear brand Sapphire Eyewear, says that eye protection is important because COVID particles are transmitted in aerosol droplets, with can land in the eye. But even the largest of droplets can be stopped by just a pair of regular glasses. At the same time, Flynn says goggles may be the best form of protection, as they grip to your face. This helps block out the smaller aerosol particles, which can get through even the tiniest of gaps. Having goggles with a tight fit that “preferably creates a seal” can help protect you at any turn, he says. And it’s not that out of the ordinary for people to turn to snow goggles as a way to slow viral spread. In fact, this is what some doctors did in March when personal protective equipment (PPE) was lacking. Olulade says that while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does recommend the use of goggles for healthcare workers, there is not yet a specific recommendation for the general population. However, she says snow goggles can certainly be used as an additional layer of protection, “if cleaned and worn properly.” “They may offer an additional layer of protection, but goggles should never be used in place of or as a substitute for masks because masks protect against the main way in which coronavirus spreads,” Olulade warns. “In theory, they can offer more protection, but cannot be relied on as a standalone protective agent.” Whether or not you get infected with the coronavirus through ocular transmission, your eyes can offer signs that you’re infected. A study published in the BMJ Open Ophthalmology journal on Nov. 30 found that 81 percent of COVID patients reported eye symptoms within two weeks of other coronavirus symptoms. To find out what eye issues could be coronavirus signs, keep reading, and for more symptoms to be aware of, This Is How to Tell If Your Headache Is COVID, Study Says. Patients experiencing this before COVID: 5 percent Patients experiencing this during COVID: 16 percent And for more subtle coronavirus symptoms, These 4 Easy-To-Miss Symptoms Could Mean You Have COVID, Experts Say. Patients experiencing this before COVID: 14 percent Patients experiencing this during COVID: 17 percent Patients experiencing this before COVID: 13 percent Patients experiencing this during COVID: 18 percent And for more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. Patients experiencing this before COVID: 7 percent Patients experiencing this during COVID: 12 percent Patients experiencing this before COVID: 2 percent Patients experiencing this during COVID: 4 percent And for more unusual coronavirus symptoms, This Is How to Tell If Your Back Pain Is COVID, Doctors Say. Patients experiencing this before COVID: 4 percent Patients experiencing this during COVID: 5 percent Patients experiencing this before COVID: 2 percent Patients experiencing this during COVID: 5 percent And if you’re traveling this winter, discover The 4 Things You Shouldn’t Do at a Hotel During COVID, Doctor Warns.
