Coronavirus Lockdown: Day Three

It’s Friday 27th March and today is the fourth day of lockdown in the UK. How is everyone? it’s been a strange week hasn’t it. For many of us, the coming weekend might not feel much different from the rest of the week; we won’t be going out anywhere, there are no football matches or children’s activities.  For those key workers, especially those in the NHS, thank you. Thank you for everything you’re doing. I really hope you get some downtime and a chance to recharge your batteries.

I did my last official day of optometric work yesterday until things return to normal. (Optometrists working in England are contracted by NHS England to provide NHS eye examinations). I was on call for ocular emergencies, although I didn’t get called out.  During lockdown, optometrists are able to see genuine ocular emergencies for example flashes and floaters, sudden loss of vision or a painful red eye, and will accept urgent repairs, for example, if a key worker breaks their glasses. This is by appointment only and all calls will be triaged remotely in the first instance. My colleague will now be on call for the duration.

Coronavirus and the eyes

A word about Coronavirus and the eyes too. Coronavirus is transmissible via the eyes. This means if you have traces of the virus on your hands and touch your eyes, you can become infected. My advice is to to minimise touching the eye area as much as possible and be extra vigilant with hygiene if you are a contact lens wearer. Spectacles and sunglasses act as a physical barrier against the virus as well as dust and other foreign bodies and they block out damaging UV rays. There is contradictory advice about avoiding contact lens wear per se. Some experts advise to avoid wearing them because insertion and removal involves touching the eye or eye area. Others say there is no evidence to say that wearing contact lenses puts an individual at greater risk. One thing is certain, if you have symptoms of any illness, whether that is a common cold or Covid-19, it is sensible to cease wearing contact lenses until fully recovered.

Speaking of sunglasses, it was warm enough to sit outside yesterday and, of my many pairs, I chose to wear my red heart sunglasses for three reasons. One because they match my top, two because they make me happy and three, because my Italian friends at Feb31st made them for me. They, and the whole of Italy, deserve some love.

I didn’t just sit in the sun though. I tidied a dumping ground of an understairs cupboard and a bookcase, and put a shelf up in said cupboard. I’m aiming to do at least one job a day that I wouldn’t have ordinarily gotten around to.

And finally…

This is why I usually have Shellac on my nails. I painted these myself less than 48 hours ago.

Notes

Red spotted “Pippa” blouse: Boden 2019, (still available in clearance in navy and in cream)
Lift, Slim and Shape Jeans: Next 2019, (still current)
LOL (Lots Of Love) bespoke heart sunglasses: Feb31st, 2019 (gift). Read “Bespoke Eyewear by Feb31st” to see how I designed them.