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Effect of Taping Face Masks on Quantitative Particle Counts Near the Eye
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The effect of taping the top of cloth, surgical, and N95 face masks on the number of particles dispersed toward the ocular surface while subjects breathed normally, breathed deeply, or spoke was studied in a controlled fashion. Taping reduced the particle count only for the cloth face masks, and when subjects were talking, compared with no taping.
- There was no significant reduction in air particle counts with taping (vs no taping) of well-fitted surgical or N95 masks for any breathing condition.
abstract
This abstract is available on the publisher's site.
Access this abstract nowPURPOSE
To determine the effect of taping the top of face masks on air particle counts directed toward the eye during simulated intravitreal injections.
DESIGN
Prospective observational crossover study.
METHODS
Thirteen healthy subjects were recruited. Each wore a cloth, surgical, or N95 mask in randomized order. The number of air particles were quantified using a particle counter suspended over the right eye while each subject breathed normally, deeply, or spoke using a standardized script. Particle counts were obtained with the top of each mask taped and untaped. The main outcome measurements were particle counts in the size classes of 0.3 μm, 0.5 μm, 1 μm, 3 μm, 5 μm, 10 μm, and total particle count.
RESULTS
Taping cloth masks while subjects were speaking significantly reduced particle counts for the size classes of 0.3 μm (p=0.03), 0.5 μm (p=0.01), 1 μm (p=0.03), and total particle counts (p=0.008) compared to no taping. Taping the top of cloth masks during normal or deep breathing did not significantly affect particle counts compared to no taping. Taping the top of surgical or N95 masks did not significantly alter particle counts for any breathing condition tested.
CONCLUSIONS
Taping the top of cloth masks prior to simulated intravitreal injections significantly reduced air particle counts directed toward the eye when subjects were speaking compared to no taping. This may have implications for decreasing air particles reaching the eye during intravitreal injections, including aerosolized droplets from a patient's mouth that may carry oral pathogens.
Additional Info
Effect of Taping Face Masks on Quantitative Particle Counts Near the Eye: Implications for Intravitreal Injections in the COVID-19 Era
Am J Ophthalmol 2021 Jan 31;[EPub Ahead of Print], WG Schultheis, JE Sharpe, Q Zhang, SN Patel, AE Kuriyan, A Chiang, SJ Garg, J HsuFrom MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.