A worker wearing a mask and face shield speaks with visitors outside the High Line park as New York … [+]
Is your 2020 vision to wear some eye protection to protect yourself against the COvid-19 coronavirus?
Well, Anthony Fauci, MD, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), doesn’t think that would be a bad idea. During his interview on Wednesday with ABC News Medical Correspondent Jennifer Ashton, MD, here’s what Fauci said about goggles or eye shields:
Not surprisingly, some on social media blew what Fauci said out of context and suggested that this is the next step along the way to full hazmat suit or body condom requirements. For example, there was this tweet:
Let’s not lose sight of what Fauci actually said. He didn’t say try to look like Star Lord or Darth Vader. Fauci did not say go out and buy a face shield or goggles. Instead, his advice was more of the following vein: if you already have them, you might as well use them. He also said if you “really want to be complete” (and not in a Jerry McGuire “you complete me” type of way), “you should probably use it if you can.”
Could a face shield, goggles, or other eye protection help? Consider this. When it comes to the Covid-19 coronavirus, it’s all about the face, to adapt that Meghan Trainor song. The possible portals of entry for the virus seem to be mainly on the face, specifically the mucous membranes. Mucous membranes consist of thin, more permeable layers of cells through which viruses can pass more easily. So unless you are actually just one gigantic mucous membrane, a hazmat suit probably isn’t going to be needed anytime soon. (Note: being called a mucous membrane by an ex- is not the same as being one.)
Of course, not all of your mucous membranes are on your face. Some of them are in your pants, meaning your genitals and anal area and not what you keep in your pockets. However, there isn’t much evidence that the Covid-19 coronavirus can infect you through those mucous membranes. They are way too far from your face and your respiratory tract, no matter what your nickname may be. That leaves your nose and mouth as the primary open doors since they connect directly to your respiratory tract. Your eyes are possibilities too. But the route to the respiratory tract from your eyes is a little more indirect and through your sinuses.
So it is possible to get infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) through your eyes. There are two ways that this could happen. One is your filthy paws. You can get the virus on your hands and then transfer them to your eyes when you touch your eyes. For example, this may occur when you have managed to get the last toilet paper roll in a store and want to make “Boo Hoo Hoo” motions with your fists on your eyes to all the other shoppers. Wearing a face shield, a pair of googles, eye shields, or an Iron Man helmet could keep you from actually touching your eyes. It also cold give the “Boo Hoo Hoo” motion even more impact.
This woman is preparing to do the “boo hoo hoo” motion. (Photo: Getty)
The second way in theory is through viruses in the air. If someone were to cough, sneeze, or pant in your general direction, the eye covering could potentially shield you from the splatter. Alternatively, if the viruses were able to hang in the air for a bit, entering such an airspace could possibly allow some of those viruses to land on your eyes. An eye covering could make that harder to occur.
What are the chances that you can get infected through your eyes? Unclear. Published in The Lancet, a systematic review of 172 observational studies across 16 different countries and six continents (sorry, no penguin-conducted studies in Antarctica) showed that eye protection use was associated with about a 78% less likelihood of infection. However, in the words of Eric Cartman from the television show South Park merging with Yoda from the Star Wars series, “weak” such evidence is. Correlation does not mean causation. Just because eye protection is associated with lower infection rates doesn’t mean that the eye protection is driving these differences. For example, those wearing eye protection may be more diligent in maintaining social distancing and doing other things to prevent infection. After all, face shield doesn’t exactly scream come nuzzle with me.
On the flip side, wearing eye protection can’t hurt as long as you don’t end up touching your face and eyes more to adjust them or attach a suction device to draw the virus to your eyes. It can serve as a barrier and a reminder not to touch your face, which you probably do a lot more than you realize. After all, the gravitational pull that your face has to your hands can be stronger than that of Jupiter or the musical group BTS.
Ultimately, your decision to wear a face shield or other eye protection should be based on an assessment of overall risk. And a review of what else you are doing. Social distancing trumps eye protection. OK, maybe that wasn’t the best choice of words. Social distancing is more important than eye protection. Don’t believe that eye protection can replace social distancing. Try to stay at least one Denzel Washington or one Ryan Gosling (both of whom are about six feet tall) away from everyone else as much as possible. If you are always staying far away from others and not going into more crowded indoor public locations where the air may be more stagnant, then eye protection probably won’t provide much more protection. For example, sitting at home alone wearing a face shield is overdoing it a bit.
Also, keep in mind that a face shield or eye protection is not going to protect others from you as much as a face covering would. Viruses don’t come out of your eyes like heat vision beams come out of Supergirl’s. The nose and mouth are still the primary emitters of the virus. So covering them will be more important. A face shield may be able to catch the splatter of respiratory droplets. But virus particles could still leak out the sides like teenagers sneaking out of a house.
However, if you already have eye protection and may get closer to others, it can’t hurt to wear such protection. For example, health care professionals or others who have to get closer to others should consider donning such protection. Also, if you plan on having sex with someone and will be wearing masks anyway, might as well add goggles to complete the whole praying mantis look.