The Basics Of Eye Protection

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends eye protection in a variety of potential exposure settings where workers may be at risk of acquiring infectious diseases via ocular exposure.

Eye protection, such as face shields, goggles and eye shields, protect your eyes from splashes, sprays, and infectious droplets.

Regular eyeglasses nor contact lenses are eye protection.

All staff who are patient facing or come within 6 feet of a patient should wear eye protection. Staff working in fluid rich environments should also wear eye protection.

Eye protection should be worn during procedures where splashes or sprays are anticipated. While there are many known procedures where splashes or sprays maybe generated there are also times where fluid may strike the face unexpectedly. Eyewear should also be worn when coming into contact with patients, whether in patient rooms, intake areas or procedure rooms.

• The front of your eye protection is considered contaminated. To remove face shields that wrap around the head, grasp from the back and remove carefully.
• To remove eyewear or eye shields, take them off as you would a pair of eyeglasses, using the side pieces and being careful not to touch the front.
• Perform hand hygiene after touching or removing your eye protection.

Sources

• Infection Control Guidance for Healthcare Professionals about Coronavirus (COVID-19). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control.html. Updated June 3, 2020.
  Accessed: February 1, 2023.
• Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Eye Protection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/eye-protection.html. Updated October 27, 2020.
  Accessed: February 1, 2023.
• Sequence for Putting on PPE; How to Safely Remove PPE. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/pdfs/PPE-Sequence-508.pdf.
  Accessed: February 1, 2023.