TY - JOUR

T1 - Eyeglasses and risk of COVID-19 transmission - analysis of the Virus Watch Community Cohort study

AU - Navaratnam, Annalan M.D.

AU - O'Callaghan, Christopher

AU - Beale, Sarah

AU - Nguyen, Vincent

AU - Aryee, Anna

AU - Braithwaite, Isobel

AU - Byrne, Thomas E.

AU - Fong, Wing Lam Erica

AU - Fragaszy, Ellen

AU - Geismar, Cyril

AU - Hoskins, Susan

AU - Kovar, Jana

AU - Patel, Parth

AU - Shrotri, Madhumita

AU - Weber, Sophie

AU - Yavlinsky, Alexei

AU - Aldridge, Robert W.

AU - Hayward, Andrew C.

AU - Michie, Susan

AU - Hardelid, Pia

AU - Wijlaars, Linda

AU - Nastouli, Eleni

AU - Spyer, Moira

AU - Killingley, Ben

AU - Cox, Ingemar

AU - Lampos, Vasileios

AU - McKendry, Rachel A.

AU - Cheng, Tao

AU - Liu, Yunzhe

AU - Gibbs, Jo

AU - Gilson, Richard

AU - Rogers, Alison

AU - Johnson, Anne M.

AU - Virus Watch Collaborative

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Objectives: The importance of SARS-CoV-2 transmission via the eyes is unknown, with previous studies mainly focusing on protective eyewear in healthcare settings. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that wearing eyeglasses is associated with a lower risk of COVID-19. Methods: Participants from the Virus Watch prospective community cohort study responded to a questionnaire on the use of eyeglasses and contact lenses. Infection was confirmed through data linkage, self-reported positive results, and, for a subgroup, monthly capillary antibody testing. Multivariable logistic regression models, controlling for age, sex, income, and occupation, were used to identify the odds of infection depending on frequency and purpose of eyeglasses or contact lenses use. Results: A total of 19,166 participants responded to the questionnaire, with 13,681 (71.3%, CI 70.7-72.0) reporting they wore eyeglasses. Multivariable logistic regression model showed a 15% lower odds of infection for those who reported using eyeglasses always for general use (odds ratio [OR] 0.85, 95% 0.77-0.95, P = 0.002) compared to those who never wore eyeglasses. The protective effect was reduced for those who said wearing eyeglasses interfered with mask-wearing and was absent for contact lens wearers. Conclusions: People who wear eyeglasses have a moderate reduction in risk of COVID-19 infection, highlighting that eye protection may make a valuable contribution to the reduction of transmission in community and healthcare settings.

AB - Objectives: The importance of SARS-CoV-2 transmission via the eyes is unknown, with previous studies mainly focusing on protective eyewear in healthcare settings. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that wearing eyeglasses is associated with a lower risk of COVID-19. Methods: Participants from the Virus Watch prospective community cohort study responded to a questionnaire on the use of eyeglasses and contact lenses. Infection was confirmed through data linkage, self-reported positive results, and, for a subgroup, monthly capillary antibody testing. Multivariable logistic regression models, controlling for age, sex, income, and occupation, were used to identify the odds of infection depending on frequency and purpose of eyeglasses or contact lenses use. Results: A total of 19,166 participants responded to the questionnaire, with 13,681 (71.3%, CI 70.7-72.0) reporting they wore eyeglasses. Multivariable logistic regression model showed a 15% lower odds of infection for those who reported using eyeglasses always for general use (odds ratio [OR] 0.85, 95% 0.77-0.95, P = 0.002) compared to those who never wore eyeglasses. The protective effect was reduced for those who said wearing eyeglasses interfered with mask-wearing and was absent for contact lens wearers. Conclusions: People who wear eyeglasses have a moderate reduction in risk of COVID-19 infection, highlighting that eye protection may make a valuable contribution to the reduction of transmission in community and healthcare settings.

KW - Communicable disease

KW - Infection control

KW - Public health

KW - Respiratory tract infections

U2 - 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.10.021

DO - 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.10.021

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38008351

AN - SCOPUS:85180491705

VL - 139

SP - 28

EP - 33

JO - International Journal of Infectious Diseases

JF - International Journal of Infectious Diseases

SN - 1201-9712

ER -