Ocular Findings and Blurring of Vision Associated with COVID-19 Virus during Pandemics in Iraq

Abstract

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged with a number of ophthalmologic manifestations. The most significant ocular symptoms included conjunctival discharge, redness, tears, itching, and a feeling of a foreign body in the eye. Aim To review and critically appraise ophthalmologic manifestations of COVID-19 in the form of rate and severity of visual impairment following ocular and systemic COVID-19 infections. Methods A cross-sectional study that was carried out at the outpatients’ clinic in Al-Diwaniyah Teaching Hospital from October 2020 to October 2022 were 135 patients seeking advice regarding their ocular complaints. They are PCR and /or CT-scan approved COVID-19 infection. Comprehensive eye examination done for these patients started with visual acuity assessment by Snellen chart, then refraction followed by examination of the eye and its adnexa by slit lamp for signs of inflammation. Results The patients had a mean age of 47.5 years, and the rate of blurring of vision was 39.3%, whether they had ocular manifestation or not, and it showed substantial association with disease severity. Conclusion COVID-19 infection was associated with visual impairment, and the ophthalmologic manifestations severity was related to systemic morbidity.