I’ve worn glasses since I was a college student in the ’90s. While I haven’t always enjoyed wearing them, especially when they fog up, I’m grateful now that I never switched to contact lenses or had laser eye surgery. According to a new study, wearing glasses might give you an extra layer of protection against COVID-19.
The study conducted in India suggests that people who wear glasses are three times less likely to get the COVID-19 virus. Researchers think that’s because they don’t touch their eyes as often, which can be a significant route of infection. People touch their face an average of about 23 times an hour and their eyes three times per hour, say researchers.
What have we been hearing since the pandemic began? Wash your hands often and avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. That’s why masks are recommended. We probably all would have been better off wearing hazmat suits since last March. And if wearing two masks offers better protection than one, should we double up on the glasses, too?
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