How to properly clean your eyeglasses
Soap and Water
We think this is a great way to clean and disinfect your eyeglasses. We recommend you clean your eyeglasses at least twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Recall that the coronavirus is susceptible to routine hand washing for 20 seconds, therefore, using soap and water to clean your eyeglasses for 20 seconds will likely inactivate the virus as well. Here are the steps to properly sanitize your eyeglasses:
We think this is a great way to clean and disinfect your eyeglasses. We recommend you clean your eyeglasses at least twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Recall that the coronavirus is susceptible to routine hand washing for 20 seconds, therefore, using soap and water to clean your eyeglasses for 20 seconds will likely inactivate the virus as well. Here are the steps to properly sanitize your eyeglasses:
- Thoroughly wash your hands with lotion-free soap or lotion-free dishwashing liquid.
- Thoroughly rinse your eyeglasses under luke-warm water (this will reduce risk of scratching your lenses when you are cleaning them). Avoid using hot water which could damage your lens coating(s) and frame.
- Apply a drop or two of the lotion-free dishwashing liquid to your fingertip. Do not have to use too much as it's very concentrated.
- Gently and thoroughly rub both sides of your lenses. On your frame, pay particular attention to the nose pads and the temple ends which both contact your skin.
- Rinse both sides of your lenses and frame thoroughly with luke-warm water. Failure to remove all traces of soap will result in smearing of your lenses when drying.
- Gently shake your eyeglasses to remove most of the water.
- Use a soft lint-free cleaning cloth (microfiber) to dry your eyeglasses. You can also use a clean cotton towel. Always inspect the cloth or towel to make sure there's not debris or dirt trapped in the fibers to avoid scratching your lenses. What you want to avoid is using a towel that has been laundered with a fabric softener or dryer sheet. These substances can smear your lenses.
- Now remember to store your eyeglasses in a clean case when you are not using them. This will help reduce the risk of contaminating your frame and lenses.
How to clean the area around your eyes
Hypochlorous acid
There are numerous products out there (prescription and over-the-counter) that are advertised to clean the area around your eyes. We like hypochlorous acid because it's a very effective germ killer and is very safe to use around the eyes. It has been shown to be effective against the seven most common bacterial pathogens causing ocular surface disease. Furthermore, hypochlorous acid has also been shown to kill viruses like norovirus, adenovirus, and rhinovirus. Although it has not been tested on COIVD-19, it is on the EPA's N-list of disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). Click here to see the entire list.
Hypochlorous acid is produced by our own white blood cells as part of our body's natural defense system against pathogens. As a sanitizer, it is available commercially as a 0.02% weak and stable acid (pH between 6-7), which makes it safe and non-irritating to the ocular surface. Recall that tap water generally has a pH of 7.
We have been recommending hypochlorous acid (HypoChlor by OCuSOFT, non-prescription) to our patients for a variety of reasons. Some of the more common reasons include controlling eyelid inflammation and infection, "pink eye", and dry and itchy eyes. Even if you don't have these problems, it's always a good idea to maintain good lid hygiene, especially in light of this pandemmic. Based on personal use and from patient feedbacks, we generally recommend the gel spray as it's very soothing to the delicate and sensitive skin around the eyes.
Direction for use:
There are numerous products out there (prescription and over-the-counter) that are advertised to clean the area around your eyes. We like hypochlorous acid because it's a very effective germ killer and is very safe to use around the eyes. It has been shown to be effective against the seven most common bacterial pathogens causing ocular surface disease. Furthermore, hypochlorous acid has also been shown to kill viruses like norovirus, adenovirus, and rhinovirus. Although it has not been tested on COIVD-19, it is on the EPA's N-list of disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). Click here to see the entire list.
Hypochlorous acid is produced by our own white blood cells as part of our body's natural defense system against pathogens. As a sanitizer, it is available commercially as a 0.02% weak and stable acid (pH between 6-7), which makes it safe and non-irritating to the ocular surface. Recall that tap water generally has a pH of 7.
We have been recommending hypochlorous acid (HypoChlor by OCuSOFT, non-prescription) to our patients for a variety of reasons. Some of the more common reasons include controlling eyelid inflammation and infection, "pink eye", and dry and itchy eyes. Even if you don't have these problems, it's always a good idea to maintain good lid hygiene, especially in light of this pandemmic. Based on personal use and from patient feedbacks, we generally recommend the gel spray as it's very soothing to the delicate and sensitive skin around the eyes.
Direction for use:
- Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and warm water (at least 20 seconds).
- Spray HypoChlor gel onto a clean lint-free cotton pad/round.
- Close your eyes and gently rub the pad across your eyelashes and eyelid margins (upper and lower), corner to corner, 5-6 times.
- To avoid possible cross contamination, use a new pad for the other eye.
- You can also clean your eyebrows and bridge of your nose with the HypoChlor-infused pad.
- You do not need to rinse the hypochlorous acid off.