COVID-19: Here’s why those who wear glasses are much less likely to catch the virus, researchers say

New research suggests that a common accessory already worn by millions of people can make the wearer three times less likely to catch COVID-19.

Although face masks reduce the risk of catching or spreading COVID-19 through the mouth and nose, little research has been done on how to prevent the virus from entering through people’s eyes.

However, a recent study found that people who wear glasses for at least 8 hours a day are two to three times less likely to get COVID-19 than people who don’t.

The same level of protection applies to people who wear sunglasses when they are outdoors.

Glasses offer some physical protection against the spread of the virus through saliva or airborne mucus, but the real reason eyeglass wearers aren’t as likely to catch COVID-19 is because glasses prevent people from touching and rubbing their eyes.

The principal investigator of the study is Amit Kumar Saxena from India. To read the full study, visit medrxiv.org.

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