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Meta-Analysis
. 2020 Aug 3;61(10):29.
doi: 10.1167/iovs.61.10.29.

Clinical and Prodromal Ocular Symptoms in Coronavirus Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Takenori Inomata  1   2   3   4 , Koji Kitazawa  5   6 , Toshiki Kuno  7 , Jaemyoung Sung  1 , Masahiro Nakamura  4   8 , Masao Iwagami  9 , Hisato Takagi  10 , Akie Midorikawa-Inomata  3 , Jun Zhu  1   11 , Keiichi Fujimoto  1 , Yuichi Okumura  2   4   12 , Maria Miura  4   12 , Kenta Fujio  4   12 , Kunihiko Hirosawa  4   12 , Yasutsugu Akasaki  4   12 , Mizu Kuwahara  4   12 , Reza Dana  13 , Akira Murakami  1   4
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Clinical and Prodromal Ocular Symptoms in Coronavirus Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Takenori Inomata et al. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. .

Abstract

Purpose: This systematic review aimed to determine currently reported clinical and prodromal ocular symptoms in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: An online article search was performed in PubMed and EMBASE. Altogether 15 studies (retrospective, prospective, or case studies) involving 1533 patients with COVID-19, reporting on ocular symptoms, and with outcome data available were identified. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines were followed. Study-specific estimates (incidence rates of ocular symptoms in patients with COVID-19) of cases were combined using one-group meta-analysis in a random-effects model.

Results: Of all included studies, 11.2% (95% confidence interval, 5.5-16.9; 78/1526 cases) reported ocular symptoms. The most common ocular finding was conjunctivitis. Prodromal ocular symptoms occurred in 12.5% (13/104 cases) of patients with COVID-19. Positive real-time polymerase chain reaction results were obtained for 16.7% (10/60 cases) of conjunctival samples and 0% (0/17 cases) of tear samples. Twelve ocular conjunctival swab samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Ten cases were from subjects showing ocular symptoms (16.7%, 10/60 cases), and the remaining two cases were from subjects without ocular manifestation (1.8%, 2/113 cases). Limitations included the short study period, small sample size, findings were limited to the Asian population, only seven articles included ophthalmologic examination details, and there is currently no consensus on COVID-19 management.

Conclusions: Ocular symptoms may occur in the presymptomatic phase as a prodromal symptom (12.5%, 13/104 cases), suggesting the possibility of viral transmission from the conjunctiva.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: T. Inomata, None; K. Kitazawa, None; T. Kuno, None; J. Sung, None; M. Nakamura, None; M. Iwagami, None; H. Takagi, None; A. Midorikawa-Inomata, None; J. Zhu, None; K. Fujimoto, None; Y. Okumura, None; M. Miura, None; K. Fujio, None; K. Hirosawa, None; Y. Akasaki, None; M. Kuwahara, None; R. Dana, None; A. Murakami, None

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Study inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Flow diagram of study selection.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Proportion of ocular symptoms in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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