Coronavirus infection and ophthalmology

Abstract

This article presents a review of the ocular manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by using materials of Russian and international researchers. After the outbreak of COVID-19 began in China in December 2019, isolated works on ocular manifestations of coronavirus infection began to appear in the literature. The review article summarizes data on the origin and species of viruses that infect humans, the structure of coronaviruses, and intermediate hosts of the virus. A separate chapter is devoted to the mode of transmission for infectious. Itis shown that the main route of COVID-19 transmission from person to person is airborne. Of great interest to the ophthalmologists is the review of works devoted to the virus detection in the conjunctival sac. In particular, some studies have shown that in patients with COVID-19, the virus is present in the lacrimal fluid. According to the authors, it indicates that coronavirus might be transmitted through the conjunctiva. These statements are confirmed by clinical and experimental researches. The presence of coronavirus in tears indicates the possibility to cause disease by the ocular route. That is a potential infection source for different types of physicians during routine examinations of patients, and especially by ophthalmologists. Therefore healthcare workers should wear eye protection when dealing with patients who may have COVID-19. Ophthalmologists must take necessary safety precautions, even in conducting a routine physical examination. It is also worth noting that conjunctivitis can be the first symptom of COVID-19. It is proved that the virus in the conjunctiva was detected even in patients without symptoms of eye inflammation. Also interesting for researchers is the manifestations of coronavirus infection in animals, which, according to the authors, is essential for understanding the possible mechanisms of disease development and manifestations in humans.