International Journal of Infectious Diseases (Feb 2024)
Eyeglasses and risk of COVID-19 transmission—analysis of the Virus Watch Community Cohort study
- Annalan M.D. Navaratnam,
- Christopher O'Callaghan,
- Sarah Beale,
- Vincent Nguyen,
- Anna Aryee,
- Isobel Braithwaite,
- Thomas E. Byrne,
- Wing Lam Erica Fong,
- Ellen Fragaszy,
- Cyril Geismar,
- Susan Hoskins,
- Jana Kovar,
- Parth Patel,
- Madhumita Shrotri,
- Sophie Weber,
- Alexei Yavlinsky,
- Robert W. Aldridge,
- Andrew C. Hayward,
- Susan Michie,
- Pia Hardelid,
- Linda Wijlaars,
- Eleni Nastouli,
- Moira Spyer,
- Ben Killingley,
- Ingemar Cox,
- Vasileios Lampos,
- Rachel A. McKendry,
- Tao Cheng,
- Yunzhe Liu,
- Jo Gibbs,
- Richard Gilson,
- Alison Rogers,
- Anne M. Johnson
Affiliations
- Annalan M.D. Navaratnam
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK; Corresponding author.
- Christopher O'Callaghan
- Infection, Immunity & Inflammation Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
- Sarah Beale
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK; Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK
- Vincent Nguyen
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
- Anna Aryee
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
- Isobel Braithwaite
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
- Thomas E. Byrne
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
- Wing Lam Erica Fong
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
- Ellen Fragaszy
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Cyril Geismar
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
- Susan Hoskins
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
- Jana Kovar
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK
- Parth Patel
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
- Madhumita Shrotri
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
- Sophie Weber
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
- Alexei Yavlinsky
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
- Robert W. Aldridge
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
- Andrew C. Hayward
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK
- Susan Michie
- Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London, London, UK
- Pia Hardelid
- Department of Population, Policy and Practice, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- Linda Wijlaars
- Department of Population, Policy and Practice, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- Eleni Nastouli
- Department of Population, Policy and Practice, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK; Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Moira Spyer
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK; Department of Population, Policy and Practice, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK; Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Ben Killingley
- Department of Population, Policy and Practice, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK; Health Protection and Influenza Research Group, Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Nottingham School of Medicine, Nottingham, UK; University College London Hospital, London, UK
- Ingemar Cox
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
- Vasileios Lampos
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
- Rachel A. McKendry
- London Centre for Nanotechnology and Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
- Tao Cheng
- SpaceTimeLab, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, University College London, London, UK
- Yunzhe Liu
- SpaceTimeLab, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, University College London, London, UK
- Jo Gibbs
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
- Richard Gilson
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
- Alison Rogers
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
- Anne M. Johnson
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
- Journal volume & issue
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Vol. 139
pp. 28 – 33
Abstract
Objectives: The importance of SARS-CoV-2 transmission via the eyes is unknown, with previous studies mainly focusing on protective eyewear in healthcare settings. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that wearing eyeglasses is associated with a lower risk of COVID-19. Methods: Participants from the Virus Watch prospective community cohort study responded to a questionnaire on the use of eyeglasses and contact lenses. Infection was confirmed through data linkage, self-reported positive results, and, for a subgroup, monthly capillary antibody testing. Multivariable logistic regression models, controlling for age, sex, income, and occupation, were used to identify the odds of infection depending on frequency and purpose of eyeglasses or contact lenses use. Results: A total of 19,166 participants responded to the questionnaire, with 13,681 (71.3%, CI 70.7-72.0) reporting they wore eyeglasses. Multivariable logistic regression model showed a 15% lower odds of infection for those who reported using eyeglasses always for general use (odds ratio [OR] 0.85, 95% 0.77-0.95, P = 0.002) compared to those who never wore eyeglasses. The protective effect was reduced for those who said wearing eyeglasses interfered with mask-wearing and was absent for contact lens wearers. Conclusions: People who wear eyeglasses have a moderate reduction in risk of COVID-19 infection, highlighting that eye protection may make a valuable contribution to the reduction of transmission in community and healthcare settings.
