You've seen it everywhere, and now you probably try to tell yourself multiple times a day - wash your hands and try not to touch your face or nose. Sometimes that's easier said than done. For instance, what are people that wear contacts supposed to do, if touching their face (and eyes!) is a part of their daily routine?

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If you wear contacts, you're doing a lot more face touching than most people - so what's the fix?

According to Dr. Sonal Tulsi with the American Academy of Ophthalmology, you should  switch to glasses for a while during the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Consider wearing glasses more often, especially if you tend to touch your eyes a lot when your contacts are in. Substituting glasses for lenses can decrease irritation and force you to pause before touching your eye,” Dr. Tulsi advises.

If you must continue wearing your contacts, make sure you're washing your hands thoroughly for roughly 20 seconds. Here are a few other reminders to keep in mind:

  • Minimize contact with water. Remove lenses before showering, swimming or entering a hot tub.
  • Do not rinse or store your contacts in water (tap or sterile water).
  • Do not put your lenses in your mouth to wet them.
  • Do not use saline solution and rewetting drops to disinfect lenses. Neither is an effective or approved disinfectant.
  • Rinse the contact lens case with fresh solution — not water. Then leave the empty case open to air dry.
  • Keep the contact lens case clean and replace it regularly, at least every three months. Lens cases can be a source of contamination and infection. Do not use cracked or damaged lens cases.

Glasses can also protect the eyes from infected droplets that a sick person might spray when coughing, sneezing or talking.

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