Disinfectants make glasses unusable

Increased use of disinfectants in daily life with the Covid - 19 outbreak reduces the wearing time of glasses and eyeglass lenses. Hasan Durmuş, Lecturer at Opticianry Program, Vocational School of Health Services, Izmir University of Economics (IUE), said that the use of disinfectants has increased with the pandemic period and that wiping the frames and eyeglass lenses with these products damages the glasses.

Stating that the alcohol contained in disinfectants causes abrasion on the outer parts of the frame and damage to the coverings on the glasses, Durmuş said, “Our hands uncontrollably come into contact with the glasses and create the risk of contamination. Many people think of cleaning their glasses with hand sanitizer initially. Disinfectants can cause wear and damage to the outer part of the eyeglass frame. In addition, when the eyeglass lenses interact with the disinfectant, all the coatings on them may be damaged, causing a decrease in vision quality. Baby shampoos with few chemicals can be preferred for cleaning glasses during this time. If not available, cleaning with soap can be considered as an alternative option.”

Disinfectants should not come into contact with eyes

Reminding that the experts have stated that the coronavirus is transmitted to the human body through the mouth, nose and eyes, Durmuş noted that it is important to use contact lenses in careful and hygienic conditions. Emphasizing that the contact of hand disinfectants to the eyes should be prevented, Durmuş stated that it would be beneficial to choose glasses in cases where contact lenses are not required.

Stating that wearing a mask causes vision restrictions in wearers of eyeglasses due to the fog that occurs after breathing, Durmuş said, “Thanks to anti-fog coatings, healthcare professionals who have to wear masks throughout the day as well as those who continue their daily life with masks can use eye glasses comfortably. However, we see that the glasses were used a little below normal in order to prevent the formation of fog on the lens. This situation causes the distance between the outer layer of our eye, the cornea, and the lens to change. Different values ​​are obtained instead of the values ​​written in the prescription. It creates a situation without fog but with impaired vision quality. Therefore, it is important to use the glasses at the distance recommended by the physician.”

Protective visors can cause headache in long-term use

Stating that the protective visors are made of plastic material and looking through this plastic area affects the vision negatively, Durmuş pointed out that the long-term use of these materials can cause headaches due to deterioration in vision quality. Recommending the use of visors at a minimum level, Durmuş also noted that the blue light emitted by technological devices causes problems in terms of visual health and that long-term use should be avoided.