Eyeglass wearers ‘up to three times less likely to catch Covid’, scientists say

People who wear glasses are up to three times less likely to catch coronavirus, according to a new study.

Scientists say the protection offered by the glasses was “statistically significant” in the fight against Covid.

In the study, published in India, researchers also claimed that poor and uneducated people were more likely to catch the disease.

The study said it was because “ they are not following preventative guidelines properly ” and “ have [a] used to wear glasses less than educated people.

Presenting the results, Amit Kumar Saxena said: “This present study has shown that the risk of Covid is two to three times lower in the population wearing glasses than in the population not wearing glasses.

“The protective role of glasses was statistically significant if they were used for a long period of the day.

“Touching and rubbing the eyes with contaminated hands can be a major route of infection.”

The researchers said people touch their own faces an average of 23 times per hour and their eyes on average three times an hour.

The report said, “Transmission occurs by touching the face, nose, mouth and eyes.

“Touching your nose and mouth is greatly reduced when wearing a face mask correctly. But wearing a face mask does not protect the eyes. “

The study involved 304 Covid patients whose behavior of wearing glasses was assessed using a questionnaire and compared to existing studies of the general population.

The authors of the report said that out of all 58 patients wore glasses continuously during the day and during outdoor activities.

It has also been said that due to the risk of infection, health workers should use face shields and glasses to protect their eyes.

Wearing glasses does not protect the eyes as much as it does glasses, the scientists said, but could provide “some degree of protection.”