{"id":113074,"date":"2021-04-28T15:33:45","date_gmt":"2021-04-28T15:33:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/?p=113074"},"modified":"2021-04-28T15:33:45","modified_gmt":"2021-04-28T15:33:45","slug":"how-to-choose-a-face-shield-for-travel-according-to-doctors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/business\/how-to-choose-a-face-shield-for-travel-according-to-doctors\/","title":{"rendered":"How to choose a face shield for travel, according to doctors"},"content":{"rendered":"

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How to choose a face shield for travel, according to doctors (Photo: Reviewed.com)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014 Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed\u2019s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.<\/em><\/p>\n

Planning a long-awaited vacation in 2021? As vaccinations roll out in the United States and beyond, doctors have made it clear that a return to normalcy will be slow and continue to require precautions.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The CDC released new guidelines on Tuesday\u00a0saying that fully vaccinated people don\u2019t need to wear a mask outside unless they are in a large crowd. Vaccinated individuals also do not need to mask up at small outdoor gatherings regardless\u00a0members of the group’s vaccination status. The agency still strongly recommends wearing face masks outdoors for the non-vaccinated, and coverings are required for all at many indoor\u00a0public places\u00a0and when traveling.<\/p>\n

Travel that involves planes, trains, or other vessels where people are contained within will demand the continued use of masks in the U.S., per a presidential executive order. However, \u201cmany viruses infect by entering mucus membranes,\u201d like the eyes, says Shira Doron, hospital epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. \u201cTherefore, the combination of a mask and eye protection are best to avoid getting the virus.\u201d Even vaccinated individuals may worry about breakthrough cases, or those rare instances of COVID-19 that occur post-vaccine, and want to add extra protection, like a face shield.<\/p>\n

What are face shields and what protection do they offer from COVID-19?<\/h2>\n

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Face shields can offer protection for the eyes and an additional barrier for the nose and mouth over a face mask. (Photo: Getty Images \/ Hispanolistic)<\/span><\/p>\n

The recommendation for eye protection in crowded environments has led to a boom in the use of face shields for travel. But what kind of face shields are best?<\/p>\n

Experts say coverage and material are the most important factors to consider. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that face shields \u201cshould cover the forehead, extend below the chin, and wrap around the side of the face.\u201d<\/p>\n

While some shields may be reusable, any face shield the wearer plans to reuse should not have any porous surfaces, like foam or fabric intended to cushion the face, says Tufts Medical Center\u2019s Doron. In choosing a full face shield, she says: \u201cThe first thing I look at is whether every single element of the product is wipeable. It has to have no foam or soft or porous surfaces. If it does, then it must be discarded as soon as you take it off.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you want to protect your eyes from COVID-19 on the plane, here are some options that fit those requirements, in several styles to suit your preferences.<\/p>\n

Face shields supported by a glasses\u2019 frames<\/h2>\n

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Face shields that clip to glasses (your own or a dedicated frame) may be the most comfortable yet easy-to-clean option. (Photo: Ceestyle \/ PRO-TEX Face Shields)<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, many face shields utilize the foam the Doron warns against, typically as a cushion on the forehead for the shield to rest upon. One way to forgo that material is by using a face shield that utilizes built-in glasses\u2019 frames or clips onto your own prescription frames.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t wear glasses, try an option with the frame already attached, like Ceestyle\u2019s Reusable Face Shields that wipe clean and are free of porous surfaces. For the already bespectacled, this option from Pro-Tex is an eight-inch, clip-on face shield that attaches to most glasses frames along the temples with sturdy metal clips. It can also be wiped clean for reuse.<\/p>\n