Ocular manifestations of recent viral pandemics: A literature review

Mohammad J J Taha; Mohammad T Abuawwad; Warda A Alrubasy; Shams Khalid Sameer; Taleb Alsafi; Yaqeen Al-Bustanji; Luai Abu-Ismail; Abdulqadir J Nashwan

doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.1011335

Ocular manifestations of recent viral pandemics: A literature review

Front Med (Lausanne). 2022 Sep 23:9:1011335. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1011335. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Mohammad J J Taha¹, Mohammad T Abuawwad¹, Warda A Alrubasy¹, Shams Khalid Sameer¹, Taleb Alsafi², Yaqeen Al-Bustanji³, Luai Abu-Ismail⁴, Abdulqadir J Nashwan⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
² Department of Optometry, Western University College of Optometry, Pomona, CA, United States.
³ Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
⁴ Department of Ophthalmology, Islamic Hospital, Amman, Jordan.
⁵ Department of Nursing Education and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.

Abstract

Viral pandemics often take the world by storm, urging the medical community to prioritize the most evident systemic manifestations, often causing ocular manifestations to go unnoticed. This literature review highlights the ocular complications of the Monkeypox, SARS-CoV-2, MERS, Ebola, H1N1, and Zika viruses as the most recent viral pandemics. Research into the effects of these pandemics began immediately. Moreover, it also discusses the ocular complications of the vaccines and treatments that were used in the scope of the viral pandemics. Additionally, this review discusses the role of the eye as an important route of viral transmission, and thereafter, the International recommendations to reduce the incidence of viral transmission were mentioned. Lastly, this paper wants to lay out a platform for researchers who want to learn more about how viruses show up in the eye.

Keywords: COVID-19; Ebola; H1N1; MERS; Monkeypox; Zika; influenza; ophthalmology.

Publication types

Review