Comment on the randomized clinical trial investigating the influence of wearing glasses on the risk of COVID-19 infection

Abstract

The study titled "Effect of Wearing Glasses on Risk of Infection With SARS-CoV-2 in the Community - A Randomized Clinical Trial" by Fretheim et al drew our attention. This prospective clinical trial examined the impact of eyeglass usage on COVID-19 risk. By surveying 3717 participants, the authors concluded that wearing glasses in the community does not offer protection against COVID-19. However, we have concerns regarding the study's methodology. Respiratory viruses primarily infect individuals through the respiratory route, with masks being the primary protective measure. Eyeglasses play a secondary role. The study's low percentage of mask-wearing participants, coupled with the significant disparity in mask adoption between the intervention and control groups, may have influenced the results. Additionally, the authors failed to account for variations in outdoor activity duration between the groups, potentially introducing bias. While previous studies indicated a protective effect of eyeglasses against viral infections, this study's findings contradict that notion. The variation could be attributed to different viral strains and their modes of transmission. The authors acknowledge this in their discussion. Although the study demonstrates the relationship between eyeglass wear and neocoronavirus infection, improvements in methodology and result interpretation are necessary. Further insights from the authors would contribute to a more comprehensive evaluation of the findings.

Keywords: Infection; Letter; SARS-CoV-2.