Although much less common, infection through the eyes is quite possible. The cells of the conjunctiva (surface of the eyes) have a high concentration of ACE2 receptors, the ones the SARS-Cov-2 virus attaches to. Infection through this route has been definitively shown. Another reason is that your tears drain into the nose, which is why your nose runs when you cry, so the viral particles can travel from the eyes into the nose where they take up residence.
You don’t need to be walking around in ski goggles and in most situations, face shields are also probably unnecessary, but if someone coughs or sneezes directly into your face, eyes can be a target.
If you have visual problems, choose to wear glasses rather than contacts. The glasses are an adequate eye cover but the contacts are not. In addition, contacts can actually trap viral particles, slowing their clearance from the eyes increasing the risk of infection.
Face shields clearly help but they are NOT a replacement for a mask.
MASK UP
DISTANCE
WASH YOUR HANDS
DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE
VENTILATE
VACCINATE
GET HEALTHY, and now
COVER YOUR EYES.
Stay safe and be well.
AC