Precaution and prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 infection in the eye

J Chin Med Assoc. 2020 Jul;83(7):648-650. doi: 10.1097/JCMA.0000000000000334.

Abstract

Although current studies suggested that conjunctivitis is not a common presentation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), several studies have reported the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in ocular secretions. Coronavirus had not yet been successfully cultured from tears or conjunctival swabs in humans, neither SARS-CoV-2 nor SARS-CoV. However, live feline coronavirus has been isolated from conjunctival swabs. In addition, infection of COVID-19 through unprotected eye exposure had been suspected in several articles. Reports of ophthalmologists and otolaryngologists died of COVID-19 also raised concern on ocular transmission. As a result, we strongly suggest that personal protective equipment (PPE) should cover the mouth, nose, and eyes of ophthalmologists, especially when conjunctivitis caused by SARS-CoV-2 is clinically indistinguishable from other viral follicular conjunctivitis.

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus*
  • COVID-19
  • Conjunctivitis, Viral / prevention & control*
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Pandemics / prevention & control*
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control*
  • SARS-CoV-2