These health hazards are based on your own glasses

What spectacle wearers should know

Around 44.2 million people in Germany wear glasses either constantly or occasionally. About the germ load, which emanates from these everyday commodities, there were so far no investigations. For this reason, German researchers took a closer look at the microflora that prevails on the surface of the glasses and found that all eyeglasses were loaded with bacteria. A health risk?

A research group around the microbiologist Professor dr. Markus Egert from the Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences recently analyzed in a study whether there is an increased risk for the wearer of germs that are on glasses. In fact, the team found pathogenic agents on all eyewear examined. For certain people could pose a health risk from their own glasses, the researchers warn. The study results were recently published in the journal "Plos one".

On the glasses can be pathogenic germs. In particular, the temple and the nose pad are loaded and should not be forgotten during cleaning. (Image: Halfpoint / fotolia.com)

Bacteria lurked on all examined eyewear

Different areas of glasses were provided in the laboratory for the study. Part of the glasses came from students and staff of the university, another part from a nursing home. "All examined glasses were bacterially populated," reports Professor Egert in a press release on the study results. The most populated areas are those with direct skin contact, ie the earloop and the nose pads. Especially on the nasal pillow, the research team noted peak values ​​of 660,000 bacteria per square centimeter. In contrast, the glasses showed the lowest germ load.

What is on my glasses?

The researchers primarily identified typical skin and mucosal bacteria, especially of the genus Staphylococcus. Amazingly, among these bacteria, the number of pathogenic species was very high. Around 60 percent of the staphylococcus bacteria found was classified as pathogenic. They are considered to trigger conjunctivitis or ophthalmia endophthalmitis.

When wearing glasses, always clean the entire lens with a damp cloth

In further tests, the team examined to what extent the germ count can be reduced by brushing with a cloth. It was found that by rubbing the entire glasses with a damp cleaning cloth, a germ reduction of 94 to 99 percent can be achieved. Even gentle non-alcoholic cleaning wipes achieved very good results. Dry wipes were less effective in the study. By this only 85 to 90 percent of the germs could be removed.

Connections to recurrent infections

"The study clearly shows that glasses act as a germ carrier," says Professor Dr. Markus Egert. In a further study, the microbiologist now wants to investigate whether the ophthalmic flora can also be a reason for recurring eye infections and whether the goggles serve as a reservoir for antibiotic-resistant germs such as MRSA (multi-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).

For which persons the own glasses could represent a danger?

"For healthy people, their glasses are certainly not a particular risk of infection," emphasizes Professor Egert. However, in people who suffer from recurring eye infections or a weak immune system, the germ burden of the glasses should not be ignored and thought of a regular disinfection of the glasses, the expert advises. (Vb)