Risk of COVID-19 among Spectacles Wearing Population of Northern India
NC08-NC11
Correspondence
Dr. Amit Kumar Saxena,
NPCB Center, Department of Health, Kanpur Dehat, Uttar Pradesh, India.
E-mail: dr.amit.ophth07@gmail.com
Introduction: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) spread mainly through respiratory droplets and contact routes. Long-term use of spectacles may prevent repeated touching and rubbing of the eyes.
Aim: To know the association between infection with SARSCoV-2 and spectacles wearers.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 304 patients of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID19) were selected. Their spectacles wearing behaviour were assessed through a questionnaire. Spectacles wearing behaviour of general population were obtained from older studies (for comparison). Risk of COVID-19 was calculated in long-term spectacles wearers as well as in persons not using spectacles. Chi-Square test was used for statistical analysis.
Results: In this study, total 58 patients showed the behaviour of using spectacles continuously during day time and always on outdoor activities. The risk of COVID-19 was found 0.48 in spectacles wearing population as compared to 1.35 in population not using spectacles. The calculated Risk Ratio (RR) was 0.36. It indicates that the risk of COVID-19 was 2-3 times less in spectacles wearing population than the population not using spectacles. The protective effectiveness of the spectacles was found to be statistically significant (p-value=0.00113).
Conclusion: The present study showed that the risk of COVID19 was about 2-3 times less in spectacles wearing population than the population not wearing those. The nasolacrimal duct may be a route of virus transmission from conjunctival sac to the nasopharynx.