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Comment
. 2020 Jul;59(1):137-140.
doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2020.04.060. Epub 2020 May 8.

The Ocular Manifestations and Transmission of COVID-19: Recommendations for Prevention

Dominique M Dockery  1 , Susannah G Rowe  2 , Marjorie A Murphy  1 , Magdalena G Krzystolik  1   3
Affiliations
Comment

The Ocular Manifestations and Transmission of COVID-19: Recommendations for Prevention

Dominique M Dockery et al. J Emerg Med. 2020 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by a novel coronavirus termed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been linked to ocular signs and symptoms in several case reports. Research has demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 is spread primarily through close contact via respiratory droplets, but there is the possibility for ocular transmission, with the conjunctiva as a conduit as well as a source of infection.

Discussion: Ocular manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 include follicular conjunctivitis, and have been repeatedly noted as an initial or subsequent symptom of COVID-19-positive patients. Particularly in patients with ocular manifestations, there is evidence that the virus may present in tears, based on the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in conjunctival swab samples via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The virus may therefore be transmittable from the ocular surface to a new host via contact with the ocular mucosa, tears, or subsequent fomites.

Conclusions: All health care professionals should ask patients about ocular symptoms consistent with SARS-CoV-2, and use eye protection such as goggles or face shields as part of the standard personal protective equipment for high-risk patients in addition to wearing of masks by both the patient and provider, and should consider tears to be potentially infectious.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; conjunctivitis; ocular transmission; ophthalmic precautions.

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Comment on

  • Ocular tropism of respiratory viruses.
    Belser JA, Rota PA, Tumpey TM. Belser JA, et al. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 2013 Mar;77(1):144-56. doi: 10.1128/MMBR.00058-12. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 2013. PMID: 23471620 Free PMC article. Review.

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