A brief review of dry eyes and standard treatments
Coronavirus and the Eye
As the global coronavirus outbreak is spreading, we are learning more and more about the virus and how it manifests in different patients. The following is a summary of what little we know about the eye involvement in a patient with Coronavirus
What is this Virus?
Coronaviruses are relatively well-known and common viruses. Some of these viruses only infect animals such as bats but some can cause infections in humans as well. The current infection is caused by a new coronavirus called COVID-19. The virus can cause a spectrum of infections ranging from minor cold symptoms to severe pneumonia and respiratory failure.
Can Coronavirus Cause Eye Infections?
The short answer is in some cases yes. So far two reports suggest the virus can cause conjunctivitis (commonly referred to as pink eye) and possibly be transmitted by aerosol contact with eye surface. Both of these reports are from China.
In one report 1 patient out of 30 patients who were hospitalized for Coronavirus infection had conjunctivitis with virus cultured from the eye. Another report also from China showed 9 patients out of 1,099 with confirmed Coronavirus infection also had conjunctivitis with the virus.
While we cannot draw any definitive conclusions from these studies, it appears that the virus in a small number of patients can cause eye infections. Since there are so many unknowns about this virus, we cannot determine whether hand to eye contact can lead to transmission of the virus from one patient to another.
What are Some of the Things that Patients Need to Know?
The list below is by no means comprehensive as it pertains mainly to the eyes. For a more comprehensive recommendation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website provides an extensive list of information for the public
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