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. 2020 Oct;41(10):1207-1208.
doi: 10.1017/ice.2020.238. Epub 2020 May 15.

COVID-19 and ophthalmology: an underappreciated occupational hazard

Irene C Kuo  1 , Terrence P O'Brien  2
Affiliations

COVID-19 and ophthalmology: an underappreciated occupational hazard

Irene C Kuo et al. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2020 Oct.

Abstract

The proximity required of a thorough biomicroscopic slit-lamp examination may put ophthalmologists at increased risk for respiratory-borne infection with SARS-CoV-2. Conjunctivitis has been described in a few patients with COVID-19 and other coronavirus syndromes. Although SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in the conjunctival secretions or tears of patients with COVID-19 and conjunctivitis, transmission of infection through respiratory droplets to ophthalmologists without eye protection or masks may be the bigger concern.

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References

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