![]() Perhaps the most devastating vision-related complication of severe COVID-19 infection is acute stroke affecting the parts of the brain that control vision. In this instance, eye damage would be caused by decreased oxygen, rather than the virus itself. If a patient were in respiratory distress long enough, theoretically poor perfusion and oxygen deprivation could lead to possible damage to metabolically active tissues, such as the optic nerve or retina. Can COVID-19 cause temporary or permanent damage to your eyes (perhaps from lack of oxygen)? Although rare, some of these issues can lead to vision loss. Since the start of the pandemic, besides conjunctivitis, COVID-19 has been reported to be associated with other ocular problems including episcleritis, uveitis, lacrimal gland inflammation, changes to the retina and optic nerve, and issues with ocular motility. Of course, causes of conjunctivitis that are not COVID-19 related continue to persist. Although some studies have reported up to one-third of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 had ocular abnormalities, more studies are still needed. It is still uncertain exactly what percentage of patients with COVID-19 have ocular manifestations and different sources are reporting different numbers. Yes, pinkeye, or conjunctivitis, has been reported to be a possible sign of infection from COVID-19. Is it true that pink eye is an early sign of COVID-19? What are some others ocular signs and symptoms? If you develop redness or irritation, please discontinue contact lens wear, and contact your eye doctor. If you do continue contact lens wear, make sure you carefully adhere to contact lens hygiene and wash your hands. Also, glasses minimize risk of irritation from contact lens wear and serve as a barrier that forces you to pause before touching your eyes.Īlthough not that best protection, glasses can also serve as a partial shield from respiratory droplets. If you tend to touch or rub your eyes, it may be best to switch to glasses temporarily, given risk of transmission from rubbing without proper hand hygiene. However, contact lens wearers touch their eyes more often than the average person. With proper hygiene, there is no evidence that wearing contact lenses increases your risk of infection for COVID-19. Is it true that contact wearers have a higher risk of infection for COVID-19? If symptoms are persistent, you should contact your eye care provider. If your eyes become irritated or red, using over-the-counter artificial tears may help alleviate your symptoms. Therefore, routine cleaning or flushing of the eyes with water is not necessary and may actually strip away some of the ocular surface’s natural protective barriers, leading to increased risk of infection. The ocular surface has its own protective mechanisms, including antimicrobial proteins and natural lubrication. Can cleaning the eyes with water or over the counter eyedrops decrease the chance of infection? However, the virus can also live on surfaces up to a few days therefore, touching an infected surface, then touching your eyes, nose or mouth without washing your hands may lead to infection, but this risk is generally considered to be low. The mode of COVID-19 transmission is still believed to be primarily through respiratory droplets from person-to-person. Published reports suggest that SARS-CoV-2 can possibly be transmitted by aerosol contact with conjunctiva. Therefore, if infected droplets land in your eye, you are possibly susceptible to the infection. The surface of the eye and inner eyelids are also lined by mucous membrane called the conjunctiva. However, mucous membranes, which line many body cavities and organs including the respiratory tract, are most susceptible to the novel coronavirus and viruses in general. The evidence of ocular transmission has not been well studied. ![]() ![]() If COVID-19 droplets land in your eye, are you susceptible to infection? Annie Nguyen, Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology and Assistant Director of the Cornea & Refractive Surgery Fellowship at the USC Roski Eye Institute, answers frequently asked questions about whether our eyes are vulnerable to the novel coronavirus. ![]() However, more information has become available in the past 1.5 years regarding COVID-19’s effects on one of the most sensitive parts of our bodies: the eyes. Much continues to remain unknown about the constantly evolving coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Interviewed by Eric Weintraub, Additional Expertise Contributions by Dr. ![]()
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