the good doctor on: SARS-COV-2

Are you tired of hearing about the COVID Virus?

Well we have a change, a new name, the virus that causes the Covid disease in now appropriately named SARS-COV-2. This clarifies the nature of the virus. It is a corona virus in the SARS class that infect humans, one of now seven that we know presently exist. A lot more infectious than SARS and has more far reaching complications.

Last week we looked at cleaning our spectacles to help prevent the spread. In my May 1 blog " Contact Lenses During COVID-19 " we looked at contact lens wear and I would like to go back to this topic in light of new findings.

The virus has spikes that bind to a receptor on the ACE2 molecule, which are predominant on the cell membranes of the cells of the lungs, heart, kidneys and intestines. These receptors are also on the eye and its structures: cornea, conjunctiva, and sclera. This allows entry of the virus into the eye, hence the hand washing and contact lens cleaning. Samples of tears from carriers of the virus are also containing SARS-COV-2.

You can refer to the following informative article: " COVID-19 found to be spread through eyes and is 100 times more infectious than SARS "

In light of this knowledge, we definitely need to thoroughly wash our hands before handling our contact lenses and touching our eyes, but we also need to be diligent with washing our hands after inserting contact lenses and touching our eyes, also.

For more information on SARS-COV-2, or COVID-19, please refer to the Canadian Government's COVID-19 Resource Page . Additionally you can refer to the WHO's (World Health Organization) COVID-19 Resource Page , and the CDC's COVID-19 Resource Page .

Until next week, and keep safe,

The Good Doctor, Dr. Mark Germain, Burlington Eyecare