Conjunctivitis and other ocular manifestation following COVID-19; updated information about transmission of COVID-19 by eye

Mohsen Mirshamsi,Nasrin Ghiasi,Seyed Mohammad Amin Hashemipour,Rohollah Valizadeh,Sharareh Heidari,Parisa Hosseinpour,Babak Hassanlouei,Naser Samadi Aidenloo

doi:10.34172/ipp.2021.28

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported in Wuhan, in late December 2019 and was became a pandemic health problem worldwide. In this review, the current evidence related to the ocular transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and its common manifestations was studied. According to this review, 7% to 69.4% of patients had at least an ocular symptom following COVID-19. Ocular symptom are bilateral or unilateral conjunctivitis, increased secretion, eye itching and foreign body sensation, epiphora, dry eye, conjunctival congestion, eye pink, conjunctival hyperemia, and chemosis. SARS-CoV-2 particles were found in tears and conjunctiva. Therefore, the transmission of COVID-19 by conjunctiva is possible. Then, it is essential to wear eye shield to protect against developing ocular involvement by COVID-19 because personal glasses and contact lenses cannot protect from COVID-19.

Highlights

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) like other viruses in the Coronaviridae family, is highly contagious and in a short time, lots of countries became infected with SARS-CoV-2; Likewise, the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared it as a global pandemic [1,2]
A structured review was done by 10 Nov 2020, using PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Google Scholar on COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, novel coronavirus disease 2019 and eye, ocular, and ophthalmology
Eye involvement is more likely to be found in severe form of COVID-19, while there are no significant differences between gender and age of patients

Summary

Introduction

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) like other viruses in the Coronaviridae family, is highly contagious and in a short time, lots of countries became infected with SARS-CoV-2; Likewise, the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared it as a global pandemic [1,2]. SARS-CoV-2, known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has spread from Wuhan, China, and affected more than 33 million people and caused more than one million deaths [3]. Symptoms of the COVID-19 include fever and cough, shortness of breath, and pneumonia, which in most patients appear as ground glass in imaging radiology. Ocular symptoms are not uncommon in COVID-19. It is essential to protect eyes and lacrimal glands from SARS-CoV-2. Conjunctivitis is the most common symptom in patients with COVID-19. Initial control is necessary to prevent the progression of respiratory symptoms to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and to prevent mortality [6]. Mirshamsi M et al manifestations and the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 was studied

Methods and Materials

Findings

Conclusion