SARS-COV-2 in Ophthalmology: Current Evidence and Standards for Clinical Practice

Sónia Torres-Costa; Mário Lima-Fontes; Fernando Falcão-Reis; Manuel Falcão

doi:10.20344/amp.14118

SARS-COV-2 in Ophthalmology: Current Evidence and Standards for Clinical Practice

Authors

Sónia Torres-Costa Department of Ophthalmology. Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João. Porto. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7079-9554
Mário Lima-Fontes Department of Ophthalmology. Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João. Porto.
Fernando Falcão-Reis Department of Ophthalmology. Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João. Porto. Department of Surgery and Physiology. Faculty of Medicine. University of Porto. Porto.
Manuel Falcão Department of Ophthalmology. Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João. Porto. Department of Surgery and Physiology. Faculty of Medicine. University of Porto. Porto.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.14118

Keywords:

Conjunctivitis, Coronavirus Infections, COVID-19, Eye Diseases, Ophthalmology, SARS-COV-2

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 is caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Ocular manifestations have been reported including conjunctivitis and retinal changes. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to clarify eye involvement in COVID-19 in order to help with its diagnosis and to further prevent its transmission. The purpose of this review is to describe the structure and transmission of SARS-CoV-2, reported ocular findings and protection strategies for ophthalmologists.
Material and Methods: Literature search on PubMed for relevant articles using the keywords ‘COVID-19’, ‘coronavirus’, and ‘SARS-CoV-2’ in conjunction with ‘ophthalmology’ and ‘eye’. Moreover, official recommendations of ophthalmological societies were reviewed.
Results: Although the conjunctiva is directly exposed to extraocular pathogens, and the mucosa of the ocular surface and upper respiratory tract are connected by the nasolacrimal duct, the eye is rarely involved in human SARS-CoV-2 infection and the SARS-CoV-2 RNA positive rate by RT-PCR test in tears and conjunctival secretions from patients with COVID-19 is also extremely low.
Discussion: The eye can be affected by SARS-CoV-2, which is supported by some reports of conjunctivitis and retinal changes, but its role in the spread of the disease is still unknown.
Conclusion: Given the current scarce evidence, more research is needed to clarify the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and the eye.

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Published

2020-09-01

How to Cite

Torres-Costa S, Lima-Fontes M, Falcão-Reis F, Falcão M. SARS-COV-2 in Ophthalmology: Current Evidence and Standards for Clinical Practice. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2020 Sep. 1 [cited 2024 Dec. 22];33(9):593-600. Available from: https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/14118

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Issue

Vol. 33 No. 9 (2020): September

Section

Review Articles

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