New Concept of Ocular Implications in COVID-19 Infection: A Brief Review

Apen Hoddor Silaban

doi:10.24018/ejmed.2021.3.1.630

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 is a novel pneumonia-like respiratory disease caused by the infection of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus can invade the human body through various intermediaries, including through the eye. The presence of a coronavirus invasion in the eye may cause several ocular manifestations, which can be an initial clinical finding of a coronavirus infection in the host body. On the other hand, it can also cause systemic complications that may affect the eyes. This review will discuss in more detail how the coronavirus can infect humans through the eye, explain its manifestations, and briefly explain the proper and prompt management steps that must be taken.

Highlights

Human infections caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were originally reported in late 2019, which is called the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) [1]
This review aims to identify and analyze the ocular manifestation of COVID-19 infection to help clinicians build a prompt diagnosis and management regarding COVID-19 infection to the eye
The COVID-19 may invade the eyes, even if only a few reports are available on ocular disorders that occurred during the COVID-19 infection

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Human infections caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were originally reported in late 2019, which is called the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) [1]. This disease is spreading rapidly worldwide, as the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the disease as a new pandemic in March 2020 [2]. Conjunctivitis seems to be an atypical clinical finding among patients with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, as it has only been reported in less than 1% of the general cases in China [7]. Fever is the most common systemic symptom, followed by dry cough and fatigue [14]

ANTERIOR OCULAR MANIFESTATIONS OF COVID-19

MECHANISM OF TRANSMISSION

DETECTION OF COVID-19 AT THE OCULAR SURFACE

MANAGEMENT OF OCULAR MANIFESTATIONS IN COVID-19

Findings

VIII. CONCLUSION