Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38008351›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases2024

Eyeglasses and risk of COVID-19 transmission-analysis of the Virus Watch Community Cohort study.

Annalan M D Navaratnam, Christopher O'Callaghan, Sarah Beale, Vincent Nguyen, Anna Aryee, Isobel Braithwaite, Thomas E Byrne, Wing Lam Erica Fong, Ellen Fragaszy, Cyril Geismar and 9 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.3field-weighted citation impact, top 40% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

19 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Annalan M D NavaratnamInstitute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK. Electronic address: a.navaratnam@ucl.ac.uk.
Christopher O'CallaghanInfection, Immunity & Inflammation Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
Sarah BealeInstitute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK; Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK.
Vincent NguyenInstitute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK.
Anna AryeeInstitute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK.
Isobel BraithwaiteInstitute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK.
Thomas E ByrneInstitute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK.
Wing Lam Erica FongInstitute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK.
Ellen FragaszyInstitute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Cyril GeismarInstitute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK.
Susan HoskinsInstitute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK.
Jana KovarInstitute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK.
Parth PatelInstitute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK.
Madhumita ShrotriInstitute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK.
Sophie WeberInstitute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK.
Alexei YavlinskyInstitute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK.
Robert W AldridgeInstitute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK.
Andrew C HaywardInstitute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK.
Virus Watch Collaborative
University College London · GBGreat Ormond Street Hospital · GBHealth Data Research UK · GBUniversity of London · GB

Funding

Medical Research Council MR/V028375/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThe importance of SARS-CoV-2 transmission via the eyes is unknown, with previous studies mainly focusing on protective eyewear in healthcare settings. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that wearing eyeglasses is associated with a lower risk of COVID-19.

methodsParticipants from the Virus Watch prospective community cohort study responded to a questionnaire on the use of eyeglasses and contact lenses. Infection was confirmed through data linkage, self-reported positive results, and, for a subgroup, monthly capillary antibody testing. Multivariable logistic regression models, controlling for age, sex, income, and occupation, were used to identify the odds of infection depending on frequency and purpose of eyeglasses or contact lenses use.

resultsA total of 19,166 participants responded to the questionnaire, with 13,681 (71.3%, CI 70.7-72.0) reporting they wore eyeglasses. Multivariable logistic regression model showed a 15% lower odds of infection for those who reported using eyeglasses always for general use (odds ratio [OR] 0.85, 95% 0.77-0.95, P = 0.002) compared to those who never wore eyeglasses. The protective effect was reduced for those who said wearing eyeglasses interfered with mask-wearing and was absent for contact lens wearers.

conclusionsPeople who wear eyeglasses have a moderate reduction in risk of COVID-19 infection, highlighting that eye protection may make a valuable contribution to the reduction of transmission in community and healthcare settings.

Indexed as

COVID-19Cohort StudiesEyeglassesHumansProspective StudiesSARS-CoV-2Communicable diseaseInfection controlPublic healthRespiratory tract infections

Identifiers

PMID38008351
PMCPMC11139651
OpenAlexW4389001167

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.