People who wear glasses are three times less likely to contract the novel coronavirus compared to those who do not. One study conducted in India suggests that wearing glasses reduces the frequency of touching or rubbing one's eyes, which in turn decreases the likelihood of infection.
According to The National Interest, a summary of the study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, reported that the risk of contracting coronavirus was 2-3 times lower for those wearing glasses compared to non-wearers. This is especially significant given that the nasolacrimal duct may serve as a route for virus transmission. Notably, the nasolacrimal duct, also known as the tear duct, carries tears from the eye to the nasal cavity. A previous Chinese study conducted last autumn found that people who wear glasses have a lower hospitalization rate due to coronavirus, which can be transmitted from surfaces and hands to the body via the tear duct.
Dr. Thomas Steinmann, a clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), issued a statement on this subject last January, saying: "It is a provocative and fascinating study, but above all, we must clarify that this is a small percentage of the population, as it included only 304 participants. Therefore, we will need a much larger study before reaching any conclusions about whether wearing glasses truly means people touch their eyes less, thereby reducing coronavirus infection rates."
It is worth mentioning that the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) has previously stated that the novel coronavirus can be transmitted through the eyes when a sick person coughs or sneezes near your eye, or if you touch a surface contaminated with the virus and then touch your eyes or nose.
