Both CDC and OSHA recommend eye-protection at the time of contact with COVID patients? However they do not distinguish between goggles (which provide better seal around eyes but not to other parts of face) and face shield (which can cover the whole face but not a good seal). Wearing both can pose problems with fogging and increased discomfort. Would you be comfortable with any one? If yes, which one?
After doing some literature search and donning ppe for months, I think both are essential. Shield protects a bigger area of face against splashes (droplets from cough, sneeze etc) while goggles protect the mucosal surfaces of eyes snugly providing a good peripheral seal, which shields cannot. However goggles commonly fog and are more uncomfortable. However if you have to chose one then I would choose goggles from the safey point of view. Face shields alone are simply not good enough.
@Rodolfo Vega Candelario ....puedes explicar amablemente.. kindly explain
Perhaps It would be better to wear goggles to have good protection for the eyes and comfort, together with face mask to get a satisfactory protection for nose and mouth.
Being a microbiologist, I have been collecting nasopharyngeal and throat samples both for RT-PCR and RDTs since the beginning of the pandemic. Initially I was wearing both the googles and face shield, but because of the fogging caused due to the goggles around the eyes, I could not even see the posterior pharyngeal wall of the pharynx. Therefore, I stopped using them. At present I only wear a N-95 respirator and a face shield. It is much more comfortable and easy to wear for long hours.
Aroop Mohanty
Sure, it is more comfortable but the question is, is it safe?
Aroop Mohanty
I suggest you check out this link for some differences between goggles and shields.
https://www.aao.org/Assets/7231d8d7-0332-406b-b5b6-681558dd35d3/637215419697630000/goggles-vs-faceshields-pdf?inline=1
Animesh Ray Thank you for the article sir.. I have gone through it sir....agree with you on the fact that eye googles are more safe to use...we were not given anti-fog googles as a result it was very uncomfortable for us to use it for prolonged periods....will surely ask for them to be indented.....