Happy Friday once again. I’ve had kids home with snow days the last two Fridays, so it feels especially quiet this morning. With headlines about the 2020 novel coronavirus outbreak everywhere, it seemed fitting to discuss this a bit—along with how it relates to your eyes. (This also applies to the influenza B outbreak currently going through Knoxville schools.)
We’ve all had a coronavirus infection at some point. It’s a common virus, and your symptoms would have been like any mild viral infection—basically a mild to moderate cold. The difference with this one is that it’s new, or “novel,” and our immune systems aren’t well equipped to fight it yet. This is similar to SARS, MERS, or even the Spanish flu, where common viruses mutate and become far more potent.
Two years ago, while traveling in Japan and other Asian countries post-SARS, I noticed it was common to see people wearing surgical masks just walking around in public. Culturally, this is more often done as a courtesy—if someone is sick, they wear a mask so they don’t spread germs to others—rather than as a way to protect themselves from getting infected. Most surgical masks don’t filter viruses effectively and won’t stop transmission. To truly prevent infection via airborne particles, you need an N95-rated respirator and proper training on how to wear it correctly.
Where the eyes come into play is the moist mucous membranes. It’s interesting to see so many people wearing respirators or masks while leaving their eyes completely unprotected. The mucous membrane of the eye can easily serve as a transmission point for viruses like the novel coronavirus—or our local influenza B. So wearing a mask but leaving the eyes exposed doesn’t offer full protection.
One of the most effective ways to prevent colds, flu, and similar illnesses is simple: don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth during cold and flu season. Humans instinctively touch their faces and rub their eyes, so this can be challenging—but it makes a big difference. Remember to wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Have a great weekend, and let’s all try to stay healthy.
Dr. Jason
