COVID-19 Resources

Useful links , references and other resources on COVID-19 and contact lenses

The effects of the global outbreak of the Coronavirus disease COVID-19 continue to be felt around the world. The following useful links , references and other resources on COVID-19 and contact lenses will keep you up to date with the latest developments.

COVID-19 Update

Access our archive of COVID-19 Updates

Position Statement

Read IACLE’s Position Statement on the COVID-19 pandemic and contact lens use (in English, Spanish and Chinese)

Useful Links – General

World Health Organization:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

The Lancet:
https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus

Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
http://www.chinacdc.cn/en/COVID19/

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

CDC Information for Healthcare Professionals:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/hcp/index.html

Johns Hopkins University & Medicine, Coronavirus Resource Center
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/

NHS England Guidance for Clinicians and NHS Managers: https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/

Our World in Data – The COVID-19 Pandemic Slide Deck
https://ourworldindata.org

Useful Links – Contact Lenses

CDC Hand hygiene in health care settings
https://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/index.html

CDC Guidance for Contact Lens Wearers:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#How-to-Protect-Yourself

American Optometric Association:
https://www.aoa.org/coronavirus

American Academy of Ophthalmology:
https://www.aao.org/headline/alert-important-coronavirus-context

AAO, AOA, CLMA, GPLI factsheet on ‘In-office disinfection of multi-patient use diagnostic contact lenses’
https://iacle.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2020/06/aao-008-disinfection-of-contact-lenses-chart.pdf

References

Saldanha I J, Petris R, Makara M, Channa P, Akpeke E K. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eye strain and dry eye symptoms. The Ocular Surface
Volume 22, October 2021, Pages 38-46 DOI.org/10.1016/j.jtos.2021.06.004
Read the full text

Zhang X, Cheung SSL, Chan H, et al. Myopia incidence and lifestyle changes among school children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based prospective study. British Journal of Ophthalmology. Published on 02 August 2021. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2021-319307
Read the full text

Prescott C. Increased Screen Time and Dry Eye: Another Complication of COVID-19. Eye and Contact Lens. Published on August 2021 DOI: 10.1097/ICL.0000000000000820
Read the full text

Erdinest N, London N, Levinger N, Lavy I, Pras E, Morad Y. Decreased effectiveness of 0.01% atropine treatment for myopia control during prolonged COVID-19 lockdowns. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye. Published July 5 2021. DOI:org/10.1016/j.clae.2021.101475
Read the text

Sehgal S, Shinde L, Madheswaran G, Mukherjee P, Verkicharla P, Easwaran S, Bandamwar K. Impact of COVID-19 on Indian optometrists. A student, educator, and practitioner‘s perspective. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology. April 2021 – Volume 69 – Issue 4 – p 958-963
DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_3386_20
Read the full article

Genis Cardona G, Alonso S, Busquets A. Patient – practitioner communication and contact lens compliance during a prolonged COVID-19 lockdown. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye. Published March 02, 2021 DOI:org/10.1016/j.clae.2021.02.019
Read the full article

Nagra M, Allen PA, Norgett Y, Beukes E, Bowen M, Vianya‐Estopa M. The effect of the COVID‐19 pandemic on working practices of UK primary care optometrists. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics. Published on 2 February 2021 DOI.org/10.1111/opo.12786
Read the full text

Ansari E, Patel M, Harle D. Acute community ophthalmology services provided by independent prescribing optometrists supporting hospital eye services during the COVID-19 outbreak. Journal of Optometry. Available online 31 January 2021 DOI.org/10.1016/j.optom.2021.01.002
Read the full text

Bakkar MM, Alzghoul EA. Assessment of contact lens wearers’ attitude toward contact lens wear and care during Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: A cross-sectional online survey. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. Published online January 14, 2021.
DOI:10.1016/j.clae.2021.01.005
Read the full text

Vianya-Estopa M, Garcia-Porta N, Piñero DP, Simo Mannion L, Beukes EW, Wolffsohn JS, Allen PM. Contact lens wear and care in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2020 Nov 11 : 101381.
DOI: 10.1016/j.clae.2020.11.001
Read the full text

Jackson J, Silvestri G, Stevenson M, Sinton J, Witherow J, McCann R, Moutray T and Cushley L. COVID-19: The regional impact of COVID-19 on the certification of vision impairment in Northern Ireland. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2020 Nov 9. DOI: 10.1111/opo.12757. Online ahead of print.
Read the full text

Zeng W, Wang X, Li J, Yang Y, Qiu X, Song P, Xu J and Wei Y. Association of daily wear of eyeglasses with susceptibility to coronavirus disease 2019 infection. JAMA Ophthalmol. Published online September 16, 2020. DOI:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.3906.
Read the full text

Maragakis LL. Eye protection and the risk of coronavirus disease 2019: does wearing eye protection mitigate risk in public, non-health care settings. JAMA Ophthalmol. Published online September 16, 2020. DOI:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.3909.
Read the full text

Vianya-Estopa M, Wolffsohn JS, Beukes E, Trott M, Smith L, Allen PM. Soft contact lens wearers’ compliance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cont Lens Anterior Eye published 2020 August 14. DOI:10.1016/j.clae.2020.08.003 [Epub ahead of print].
Read the full text

García-Ayuso D, Escámez-Torrecilla M, Galindo-Romero C, Valiente-Soriano FJ, Moya-Rodríguez E, Sobrado-Calvo P, Di Pierdomenico J. Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on contact lens wear in Spain. Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2020 July 17. DOI: 10.1016/j.clae.2020.07.002 [Epub ahead of print].
Read the full text

Moshirfar M, West WB, Marx DP. Face mask-associated ocular irritation and dryness. Ophthalmology & Therapy 2020;9:397-400.
Read the full text

Chatziralli I, Ventura CV, Touhami S, Reynolds R, Nassisi M, Weinberg T, Pakzad-Vaezi K, Anaya D, Mustapha M, Plant A, Yuan M, Lowenstein A. Transforming ophthalmic education into virtual learning during COVID-19 pandemic: a global perspective. Eye 2020 July 10. DOI: 10.1038/s41433-020-1080-0 [Epub ahead of print].
Read the full text

Lawrenson JG & Buckley RJ. COVID-19 and the eye. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2020; 40:383-388.
Read the full text

Special issue of Eye on COVID-19 (34:7 July 2020)
Comments, reviews and original articles on the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the eye.
Access the issue

Rajhans V, Memon U, Patil V, Goyal A. Impact of COVID-19 on academic activities and way forward in Indian Optometry. Journal of Optometry, 2020 June 13 DOI.org/10.1016/j.optom.2020.06.002.
Read the full text

Lupelli L. Evidence-based Contact Lenses Practice in Times of Sars-CoV-2 Pandemic. Rivista Italiana di Optometria Online. Published June 8th, 2020.
Read the full English text
Read the full Italian text

Vidyut Rajhans, Usman Memon, Vidula Patil, Adity Goyal. Impact of COVID-19 on academic activities and way forward in Indian Optometry. Journal of Optometry 2020; 13-4 216-226.
Read the full text

Poostchi A, Kuet M-L, Pegg K, Wilde C, Richardson PS, Patel MK. Efficacy of slit amp breath shields. Eye 2020 May 12. DOI: 10.1038/s41433-020-0940-y [Epub ahead of print].
Read the full text

Cho P and Boost M. COVID-19: an eye on the virus. Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2020; 43:4 313-314.
Read the full text

Docherty AB, Harrison EM, Green CA et al on behalf of the ISARIC4C investigators. Features of 20133 UK patients in hospital with covid-19 using the ISARIC WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol: prospective observational cohort study. BMJ 2020 May 22; 369:m1985. DOI: 10.1136/ bmj.m1985. [Epub ahead of print].
Read the full text

Willcox MD, Walsh K, Nichols JJ, Morgan PB and Jones LW. Clin Exp Optom 2020; 103 418-424.
Read the full text

McMonnies CW. Diagnosis and remediation of blink inefficiency. Cont Lens Anterior Eye, 2020 April 27.
Read full text

Sun C-B, Wang Y-Y, Liu G-H and Liu Z. Role of the eye in transmitting human coronavirus: what we know and what we don’t know. Front Public Health 2020 April 24;8:155. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.00155.
Read the full text

Zeri F and Naroo SA. Contact lens practice in the time of COVID-19. Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2020;43:3 193-195.
Read the full text

Jones L, Walsh K, Willcox M. Morgan P and Nichold J. The COVID-19 pandemic: Important considerations for contact lens practitioners. Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2020;43:3 196-203.
Read the full text

Nagra M, Vianya-Estopa M and Wolffsohn JS. Could telehealth help eye care practitioners adapt contact lens services during the COVID-19 pandemic? Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2020;43:3 204-207.
Read the full text

Pult H. COVID-19 Pandemic: Survey of future use of personal protective equipment in optometric practice. Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2020;43:3 208-210.
Read the full text

Morgan PB. Contact lens wear during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2020;43:3 213.
Read the full text

Orsborn G. The importance of information about contact lens wear during pandemic. Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2020;43:3 214-215.
Read the full text

Hamroush A, Qureshi M and Shah S. Increased risk of ocular injury seen during lockdown due to COVID-19. Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2020;43:3 216.
Read the full text

Lai THT, Tang EWH, Chau SKY, Fung KSC and Li KKW. Stepping up infection control measures in ophthalmology during the novel coronavirus outbreak: an experience from Hong Kong. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2020;258:5 1049-1055.
Read the full text

Fonn D and Jones L. Hand hygiene is linked to microbial keratitis and corneal inflammatory events. Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2020;42:2 132-135.
Read the full text

Other Resources

Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)

COVID-19 and contact lenses: the facts you need to know
https://core.uwaterloo.ca/covid-19/

Five facts contact lens and glasses wearers need to know and infographic in 20 languages
Press release on Jones et al paper in Contact Lens & Anterior Eye
Contact Lens Update COVID-19 Special Edition
Guide for Contact Lens Wearers infographic
Useful links for contact lens wearers and eye care practitioners
Mask associated dry eye (MADE) infographic

Contact Lens Spectrum

COVID-19 & Contact Lenses: Behind the Science, video interviewing the authors of the Jones et al paper in Contact Lens & Anterior Eye
https://www.clspectrum.com/videos/contact-lenses-covid-19-behind-the-science?eid=324760153&bid=2625228

Optician Online

Optician (and Contact Lens Spectrum) summarize the Contact Lens & Anterior Eye paper by Jones et al
https://www.opticianonline.net/news/key-considerations-for-contact-lens-practitioners-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic

Contact Lens Institute

The CDC message about safe contact lens wear and coronavirus disease https://www.contactlensinstitute.org/covid-19/

Euromcontact

Contact Lens Practice and COVID-19: 4 actions for you to minimise transmission and 4 key points for your patients (flashcard in 10 European languages)
https://euromcontact.org/2020/03/19/contact-lens-practice-and-covid-19-material-for-eye-care-professionals-in-case-they-need-to-fit-contact-lenses-in-context-of-covid-19/

British Contact Lens Association

BCLA Guidance Returning to Practice in COVID-19: use of gloves in contact lens practice

Contact lens wear and coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for eye care practitioners and consumers
https://www.bcla.org.uk/Public/Consumer/COVID-19–Coronavirus–Contact-Lens-Care-Guidance/Public/Consumer/Contact-Lens-Wear-and-Coronavirus-guidance.aspx?hkey=a6920621-8aa9-4488-8316-84421baee4c0

BCLA webinar: Contact lens practice in the time of COVID-19 by Dr Shehzad Naroo and Dr Fabrizio Zeri (19 May)
https://www.bcla.org.uk/Public/News/Press_Release/New-BCLA-webinar-to-examine-what-lockdown-means-for-your-practice.aspx

BCLA/Alcon PPE guidance and advice https://www.bcla.org.uk/Public/Public/Consumer/PPE-Equipment-Guidance-.aspx

BCLA #StopTheSteam campaign and infographic https://www.bcla.org.uk/Public/News/Press_Release/Stop-The-Steam-and-make-the-switch-to-contact-lenses.aspx

Cornea & Contact Lens Society of Australia

Position Statement: Contact lens Wear & COVID-19
https://www.cclsa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/CCLSA_Position_Statement_07042020V8_v2.pdf

Managing COVID-19 webinar
https://web.cvent.com/event/600e016c-86f8-44dc-b6d7-8630b9dd08cc/summary

A survey from Alcon, exploring the impact of COVID-19 on contact lens wear, has highlighted the “resiliency” of the contact lens segment as well as pointing to opportunities for eye care professionals (ECPs) to build patient loyalty and discuss new innovations.

Cardona et al recently conducted a survey-based study in Spain and reported poor compliance, particularly in terms of hand washing and storage case hygiene during lockdown. Hence, practitioners need to provide wearers with precise, detailed, easy-to-follow instructions. Access the study

A recent study published by Wang et al in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) suggests an association between home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic and a substantial myopic shift for young children aged 6-8. Read the journal

A new report outlines the challenges currently faced by optometry schools and describes strategies to minimize the risk of virus transmission to ensure safe clinical optometric teaching. Access the article