Face coverings may be masking eyesight

FOR those with or without glasses, Fairbanks Eye Gallery optometrist, Peter Fairbanks has said wearing a facemask may challenge their vision.

“Depending on a person’s facial anatomy, and the design and thickness of their mask, some masks ride up the nose and block eyesight down towards the feet,” he said.

“Most of us that aren’t frail don’t need to look at our feet when we’re walking, however, we’re still relying on our peripheral eyesight. If the mask is blocking that, there’s a risk of us tripping and injuring ourselves, particularly with bluestone gutters in Ballarat.

“We need to be very mindful of the fact a mask might be reducing our eyesight when we’re looking downward, whether we’re wearing glasses or not.”

Mr Fairbanks also emphasised the greater potential for car accidents, due to glasses sitting in the wrong position on faces.

“For people who wear multifocals, in a lot of cases, their glasses sit over the mask. If they ride up, their eyesight becomes blurred and they start fidgeting, they could have an accident.

“They might consider getting distance glasses for driving so if the frame rides high, at least they can still see clearly,” he said.

While exhaling into a mask, glasses worn simultaneously tend to fog, and eyes can become drier than usual as airflow comes upwards and across the eyes. Multifocal contact lenses may be one solution.

“Glasses wearers can go to their optometrist or optical outlet. Those professionals can adjust their glasses to have nose pads angled a bit more towards their face, so the frame sits out further and allows for better airflow.”

“A lot of us may already be susceptible to dry eyes, and with a mask on, that may exacerbate that,” Mr Fairbanks said.

“A lot of us are spending more time on computers where we’re blinking less frequently. If we have a mask on in our work environment and we’re on a screen, there’s a greater possibility of dryness.”

For those experiencing red, sore or strained eyes, they should ensure they’re not working too close to a heater, and consider seeing their eyecare practitioner, to explore lubricating drops to relieve discomfort.

During the challenging COVID period, Mr Fairbanks said anxiety, at times, may also weaken vision.

“People need to be mindful of that, manage their stress and look at ways to relieve it.”