Coronavirus: Should you wear contacts during pandemic? Experts say no

If you are a contact lens wearer, you may want to think twice before putting them in because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says you should not touch your eyes, but contact wearers must, not only to put them in and remove them regularly but also they may habitually make adjustments throughout the day.

So the American Academy of Ophthalmology is advising contact wearers to stick to glasses.

“Consider wearing glasses more often, especially if you tend to touch your eyes a lot when your contacts are in. Substituting glasses for lenses can decrease irritation and force you to pause before touching your eye,” Dr. Sonal Tuli, the group’s spokesperson said.

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If you do decide to continue to wear your contacts, then make sure you clean them properly to limit the chances of getting an infection.

Also, limit rubbing your eyes. If you feel like you need to, use a tissue, not your fingers. Use moisturizing drops if you tend to have dry eyes. But before you use the drops, make sure you wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Then, eye experts say, wash them again after using the medication.

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If you have an eye condition that requires a prescription, try to get your three-month supply if you are quarantined or if the supply is limited as the pandemic continues.

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Eye doctors warn cases of pink eye could be caused by the coronavirus, but it is rare. Health officials say viral pink eye, which is also known as conjunctivitis, can develop in about 1% to 3% of people who have COVID-19. Pink eye can be spread by touching a fluid or an object that has the fluid on it from an infected person’s eyes.