[nudephil (OP)]

Here's a question from listener Marcus:

Does wearing regular eyeglasses contribute to COVID transmission? Has anyone done any studies on this?

Any thoughts?

[alancalverd]

Since droplet absorption through the eyes is a known route of infection, wearing specs should reduce the probability of being infected by other people's aerosols.

More than half the gunge that accumulates on my specs is on the outside, and almost everything on the inner surface came from me, so they act as a barrier in both directions.

[evan_au]

Since glasses don't block all paths that aerosols could reach your eyes, they will only be partially effective. But every little bit helps!

More effective would be a mask+full-face faceshield over your glasses.... (if you don't mind looking like a spaceman)

[alancalverd]

But not wearing prescription glasses can seriously damage your health in many ways.

[Bored chemist]

I try to shelter from the virus behind some brick walls and glass windows most of the time.

I can see some potential risk along the "touching your face" lines from wearing glasses- especially if you take them off and put them on frequently.

(I'm very shortsighted; essentially I put my glasses on before I get out of bed and I take them off when I get back to bed.)

Not wearing them might mean I got hit by traffic, so...