tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Emerg Med
. 2020 May 8;S0736-4679(20)30398-X.
doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2020.04.060. Online ahead of print.
The Ocular Manifestations and Transmission of COVID-19: Recommendations for Prevention
Dominique M Dockery[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Susannah G Rowe[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Marjorie A Murphy[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Magdalena G Krzystolik[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by a novel coronavirus termed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been linked to ocular signs and symptoms in several case reports. Research has demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 is spread primarily through close contact via respiratory droplets, but there is the possibility for ocular transmission, with the conjunctiva as a conduit as well as a source of infection.
Discussion: Ocular manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 include follicular conjunctivitis, and have been repeatedly noted as an initial or subsequent symptom of COVID-19-positive patients. Particularly in patients with ocular manifestations, there is evidence that the virus may present in tears, based on the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in conjunctival swab samples via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The virus may therefore be transmittable from the ocular surface to a new host via contact with the ocular mucosa, tears, or subsequent fomites.
Conclusions: All health care professionals should ask patients about ocular symptoms consistent with SARS-CoV-2, and use eye protection such as goggles or face shields as part of the standard personal protective equipment for high-risk patients in addition to wearing of masks by both the patient and provider, and should consider tears to be potentially infectious.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; conjunctivitis; ocular transmission; ophthalmic precautions.
. 2020 May 8;S0736-4679(20)30398-X.
doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2020.04.060. Online ahead of print.
The Ocular Manifestations and Transmission of COVID-19: Recommendations for Prevention
Dominique M Dockery[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Susannah G Rowe[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Marjorie A Murphy[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Magdalena G Krzystolik[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 32456959
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2020.04.060
Abstract
Background: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by a novel coronavirus termed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been linked to ocular signs and symptoms in several case reports. Research has demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 is spread primarily through close contact via respiratory droplets, but there is the possibility for ocular transmission, with the conjunctiva as a conduit as well as a source of infection.
Discussion: Ocular manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 include follicular conjunctivitis, and have been repeatedly noted as an initial or subsequent symptom of COVID-19-positive patients. Particularly in patients with ocular manifestations, there is evidence that the virus may present in tears, based on the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in conjunctival swab samples via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The virus may therefore be transmittable from the ocular surface to a new host via contact with the ocular mucosa, tears, or subsequent fomites.
Conclusions: All health care professionals should ask patients about ocular symptoms consistent with SARS-CoV-2, and use eye protection such as goggles or face shields as part of the standard personal protective equipment for high-risk patients in addition to wearing of masks by both the patient and provider, and should consider tears to be potentially infectious.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; conjunctivitis; ocular transmission; ophthalmic precautions.