COVID-19 News: Norwegian Randomized Clinical Study Shows That Wearing Glasses Does Reduce The Risk Of Contracting COVID-19 To A Degree
COVID-19 News - Glasses Protect Against SARS-CoV-2 Infection Dec 05, 2022 1 year, 4 months, 3 weeks, 21 hours, 41 minutes ago
COVID-19 News: A randomized clinical study led by researchers from Norway showed that wearing glasses reduces risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 infections, although very minutely.
The study comprised of researchers from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health - Norway, Oslo Metropolitan University - Norway, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health - Norway, University Hospital Basel - Switzerland, Stanford University - USA and the Berlin Institute of Health - Germany.
The study team said that the study findings does not conclude that recommending the use of glasses to prevent infection with SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses is beneficial, but the intervention is worth considering because it is simple, low cost, and has few negative consequences.
Thailand Medical News had already covered
COVID-19 News articles in the past covering studies that showed eye protection involving protective googles or even ordinary spectacles lowered the risk of contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/university-college-london-ucl-study-reveals-that-eyewear-significantly-helps-reduce-risk-of-covid-19-infection
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/virus-research-shows-that-mask-alone-not-sufficient-as-protective-goggles-also-required-by-healthcare-staff-and-others-to-prevent-contracting-sars-cov
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/ophthalmology-eyewear-and-covid-19-safety
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/australian-study-reveals-that-eye-protection-is-essential-in-curtailing-sars-cov-2-transmission
Numerous studies have already confirmed that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus can also gain entry into the human host via the eyes and also infect various parts of the eyes, giving rise to a wide array of ocular issues.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-ophthalmology-sars-cov-2-does-attack-the-eyes-and-can-also-be-an-entry-point-for-the-virus,-hence-the-need-to-also-wear-goggles
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-news-italian-researchers-find-that-sars-cov-2-can-affect-the-retina-in-the-eyes
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-news-post-mortem-study-shockingly-reveals-prevalence-of-sars-cov-2-coronavirus-in-eye-ocular-tissues
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-german-study-shows-sars-cov-2-can-infect-and-replicate-in-retinal-cells-with-implications-of-eye-issues-for-long-covid
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/spanish-study-finds-that-sars-cov-2-coronavirus-present-in-tears-and-ocular-secretions-of-individuals-with-covid-19
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-and-eyes-doctors-report-case-of-retinal-vein-occlusion-due-to-covid-19-in-patient-more-cases-of-eyes-being-attacked-by-sars-cov-2-emerging
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-news-covid-19-studies-hong-kong-researchers-say-that-eyes-are-also-an-important-entry-point-for-sars-cov-2-coronavirus
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-news:-new-report-in-lancet-confirms-that-coronavirus-can-spread-through-eyes\
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-latest-warnings-of-more-cases-of-covid-19-related-eye-infections-emerging
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-clinical-care-brazilian-study-finds-retinal-lesions-in-patients-with-severe-covid-19
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/french-study-reveals-that-covid-19-causes-potentially-dangerous-eye-abnormalities-such-as-the-formation-of-nodules-in-the-macular-region
According to the study team, although past observational studies have reported an association between the use of eye protection and reduced risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses, as with most infection control measures, no randomized clinical trials have been conducted.
The study team aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of wearing glasses in public as protection against being infected with SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses.
The study team conducted a randomized clinical trial was conducted in Norway from February 2 to April 24, 2022; all adult members of the public who did not regularly wear glasses, had no symptoms of COVID-19, and did not have COVID-19 in the last 6 weeks were eligible. The study involved study participants wearing glasses (eg, sunglasses) when close to others in public spaces for 2 weeks.
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05217797
The primary outcome was a positive COVID-19 test result reported to the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases. Secondary outcomes included a positive COVID-19 test result and respiratory infection based on self-report. All analyses adhered to the intention-to-treat principle.
In all, a total of 3717 adults (2439 women [65.6%]; mean [SD] age, 46.9 [15.1] years) were randomized. All were identified and followed up in the registries, and 3231 (86.9%) responded to the end of study questionnaire.
The study findings showed that the proportions with a reported positive COVID-19 test result in the national registry were 3.7% (68 of 1852) in the intervention group and 3.5% (65 of 1865) in the control group (absolute risk difference, 0.2%; 95% CI, −1.0% to 1.4%; relative risk, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.75-1.50).
The proportions with a positive COVID-19 test result based on self-report were 9.6% (177 of 1852) in the intervention group and 11.5% (214 of 1865) in the control group (absolute risk difference, –1.9%; 95% CI, −3.9% to 0.1%; relative risk, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.69-1.00).
However, the risk of respiratory infections based on self-reported symptoms was lower in the intervention group (30.8% [571 of 1852]) than in the control group (34.1% [636 of 1865]; absolute risk difference, –3.3%; 95% CI, −6.3% to −0.3%; relative risk, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82-0.99).
Although the findings of this randomized clinical trial, wearing glasses in the community was not totally protective regarding the primary outcome of a reported positive COVID-19 test, the study team says that glasses may be worth considering as one component in infection control, pending further studies.
The study findings were limited by the small sample size and other issues and also the type of glasses used as against real protective eye goggles.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: JAMA Network Open.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2799115
Considering the current situation where millions are infected with a variety of airborne SARS-CoV-2 variants and sub-lineages that are in circulation and although these viruses are not causing disease severity yet to the majority except those in the vulnerable groups, they are causing a wide range of long term health issues..it is best to take extra safeguards besides masking with the right type of mask and hand hygiene….protective eye goggles would be an extra preventive help.
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COVID-19 News, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News.
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