Nasiri, N., Sharifi, H., Bazrafshan, A., Noori, A., Karamouizan, M., & Sharifi, A. (2021). Ocular Manifestations of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Ophthalmic Vis Res, 16(1), 103-112. Web.
While studies on the qualities of Covid-19 are extensive, the research on the ocular manifestations is limited. The systematic review within the paper investigates the incidences of ocular manifestation in patients with Covid-19. The data of the meta-analysis has been recorded from sources such as Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus over a period of approximately eight months. Using data that had met the criteria for validity, the research estimated the prevalence of ocular symptoms, which resulted in the presence of ocular manifestations in 11.03% of patients. The symptoms that were frequently reported included dry eye, foreign body sensation, redness, tearing, itching, eye pain, and discharge. Conjunctivitis was also identified as the most common eye disease in relation to Covid-19.
Wu, P., Duan, F., Luo, C., Liu, Q., Qu, X., Liang, L., & Wu, K. (2020). Characteristics of Ocular Findings of Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Hubei Province, China. JAMA Ophthalmol, 138(5), 575-578. Web.
The following study investigated ocular manifestations and conjunctival prevalence in Covid-19 patients in the Hubei province. Of the 38 teste patients, 12 presented ocular manifestations such as epiphora, chemosis, or conjunctival congestion. They were especially prevalent in patients with severe systemic manifestations of Covid-19. The patients were tested for Covid-19 through transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction via nasopharyngeal swabs. Patients with ocular abnormalities displayed significant changes in values in blood testing. The study highlights the importance of understanding ocular manifestations in relation to Covid-19 as a utility of diagnosis and prevention for ophthalmologists. The 12 patients that presented ocular manifestations showed symptoms of conjunctivitis, conjunctival hyperemia, and increased secretions. Through univariate analysis, the study revealed that patients with ocular symptoms were likely to have increased white blood cell and neutrophil counts as well as higher levels of c-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and lactate dehydrogenase.
Willcox, M., Walsh, K., Nichols, J. J., Morgan, P. B., & Jones, L. W. (2020). The ocular surface, coronaviruses and COVID-19. Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 103(4), 418-424. Web.
The ocular surface has been hypothesized to be a site of infection for Covid-19. The following review assesses the evidence for these suggestions and their implications on current clinical practice. Due to the nature of Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2, which caused the Covid-19 pandemic, transmission occurs person-to-person via airborne droplets or through contact with contaminated exteriors. The study was able to use Scopus sources to investigate preliminary evidence that ACE2 expression on corneal and conjunctival cells exists, though the majority of the receptors to which the coronavirus binds can be found under the epithelia, beneath the ocular surface. The gathered evidence suggested that the coronaviruses were unlikely to bind to the cells of the ocular surface to begin infection.
Lawrenson, J. G., & Buckley, R. J. (2020). COVID‐19 and the eye. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. Web.
The following study implemented the expanding literature on Covid-19 to create a cohesive image of the effects of the infection in the eye and the implications on eye practitioners. Databases that were most related to ophthalmology were used in the study, including the Cochrane Eyes and Vision (CEV) US satellite, which combined reports for eye-related studies of patients with Covid-19. The research recounted ocular manifestations common in Covid-19 patients, the infectivity of tears and conjunctival transmission, as well as protective equipment for working ophthalmic services. The study explored risks to both practitioners and patients as well as efforts that can minimize them.
Chen, J., Pan, S., Chen, G., & Sun, H. (2020). A Review of COVID-19 Related Eye Disease. Social Science Research Network. Web.
The research observed in the following study was able to ascertain that animal models of coronavirus infections suggested conjunctivitis, retinitis, optic neuritis, uveitis, and a number of other ocular infections. The ACE2 is a receptor that is vital to the infection of the coronavirus, and its presence in human aqueous humor, retina, conjunctiva, and cornea suggests a possibility of similar ocular manifestations. Symptoms such as conjunctival hyperemia, red eyes, foreign body sensation, increased secretion and tearing, and eye pain was observed in Covid-19 patients in relation to the high expression of ACE2 in the conjunctiva. There is a possibility of the infection causing lesions in the various tissues of the eyeballs, anterior uveitis, and vision-threatening uveitis.
References
Chen, J., Pan, S., Chen, G., & Sun, H. (2020). A Review of COVID-19 Related Eye Disease. Social Science Research Network. Web.
Lawrenson, J. G., & Buckley, R. J. (2020). COVID‐19 and the eye. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. Web.
Nasiri, N., Sharifi, H., Bazrafshan, A., Noori, A., Karamouizan, M., & Sharifi, A. (2021). Ocular Manifestations of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.J Ophthalmic Vis Res, 16(1), 103-112. Web.
Willcox, M., Walsh, K., Nichols, J., JMorgan, P. B., & Jones, L. W. (2020). The ocular surface, coronaviruses and COVID-19. Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 103(4), 418-424. Web.
Wu, P., Duan, F., Luo, C., Liu, Q., Qu, X., Liang, L., & Wu, K. (2020). Characteristics of Ocular Findings of Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Hubei Province, China. JAMA Ophthalmol, 138(5), 575-578. Web.