FEATURE Safety Seen Clearly
Christianne Thornton, Riley Product Manager at Globus Group, explains why it is crucial that eye protection is not overlooked when acquiring appropriate PPE to protect key workers in health and social care.
The COVID-19 crisis has seen the demand for PPE skyrocket around the world, along with awareness of the relative benefits of respiratory, face protection, and hand protection PPE. However, PPE for eye protection has not received such high- profile publicity, and many are unaware of the important role eye protection can play in slowing the spread of coronavirus.
PPE is one of our most crucial tools in the fight to protect healthcare workers, and others working in hospital and clinical settings, against the spread of coronavirus. Properly fitting PPE is the most effective protection against droplets from coughs, sneezes, and other particles carried in aerosols, as well as other body fluids from infected patients.
Face masks and respirators protect against the infection entering through the mouth or nose, but the infection can also be transmitted through the eyes, which is why official guidance recommends that anyone coming into contact with a confirmed or suspected coronavirus patient in a hospital, primary care, or community care setting should wear appropriate eye protection.
Initial data from studies on coronavirus transmission suggested that wearing eyeglasses for more than eight hours per day may be protective against SARS-CoV-2 infection and, although further studies are needed to confirm this finding, there is scientific consensus that wearing well-fitting eye protection, such as safety glasses or goggles, is a key method for preventing the spread of coronavirus.
Unlike face masks, eye protection PPE has not received as much publicity by the general public, or all health and social care workers.A Lancet study found that “eye protection might also add substantial protection [… and] is typically under considered and can be effective in community settings.” So, why has there not been a greater uptake on eye protection PPE?
One reason may be that full face visors and goggles are oſten heavy and cumbersome to wear for long periods of time. Another reason may be that a key infection risk for those wearing PPE is self-contamination when touching or removing the PPE. It is therefore vital that all PPE is well- fitting, lightweight, and comfortable, to reduce the need for regular touching or readjustment. The Riley range offers many lightweight safety eyewear solutions, the lightest being the Riley Ligera weighing just 16.5g. This has been specially- designed for maximum comfort when worn for long periods of time, especially when compared to bulky goggles or face shields.
Scratch resistance can also be important for maintaining good visibility through eye protection PPE, and anti-scratch coatings like Riley’s TECTON 400 provide scratch-resistant
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and anti-fog treatment to both sides of the lens, which can be crucial when working in busy healthcare environments.
Many healthcare workers also wear prescription glasses, and so adding Perspex or plastic PPE on top can make it hard for them to see properly. As more and more health and social care workers start to wear eye protection PPE on a regular basis, prescription safety glasses are becoming increasingly popular. Riley also offers a prescription safety glasses service. This incorporates a range of lightweight adjustable frames, including prescription inserts designed to fit seamlessly within full-face respiratory products.
Healthcare systems around the world are expecting to be coping with the coronavirus outbreak for many years to come, and so we may see eye protection PPE becoming a more standard item for health and social care workers wanting the best protection. Innovations in eye protection PPE, like the Riley Ligera safety glasses, are needed to ensure that workers are getting the protection and comfort that they need to work for long periods of time.
https://globusgroup.com
www.riley-eyewear.com
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