Are contact lens wearers at higher risk of getting coronavirus?

The CDC has stated there’s no research that indicates contact lens wearers are more likely to contract or spread coronavirus/COVID-19. Continue practicing good contact lens hygiene habits to help prevent against transmission of any contact lens-related infections. Thankfully, contact lens wearers typically already follow hygienic practices of washing their hands before and after touching their eyes. With continued good hygiene, contact lens wearers can safely continue to wear their contacts. Here are a few additional hygiene tips from our on-staff optometrist.

Todd Childs, OD, suggests amping up your regular cleaning routine. This includes:

• Scrub hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before and after handling your contacts (we hope you’re doing this even when you aren’t handling your contacts).
• Use Clear Care solution, a hydrogen peroxide cleaning system that that includes an 8-hour disinfection process. This isn’t needed if you wear daily disposable contacts.
• Don’t sleep in your contacts.
• Don’t wear your lenses longer than they are designed to be worn.
• Don’t let the tip of your contact solution touch your face or any other surfaces (and remember to put the cap back on when you’re done).
• Don’t touch your mouth, nose, or eyes without freshly washed hands.
• Stop wearing contacts if your eyes become irritated or uncomfortable.