Author/Authors :
Badawi, Amani E Department of Ophthalmology - Faculty of Medicine - Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt , Elsheikh, Sara S Faculty of Medicine - Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt , Zaher Addeen, Sarah Department of Ophthalmology - Al Mouassat University Hospital - Damascus University, Damascus, Syria , Soliman, Mostafa A Faculty of Medicine - Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt , Abd‑Rabu, Rami Evidence Based Practice Center - Mayo Clinic - Rochester - MN, USA - Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery - Mayo Clinic - Rochester, MN, USA , Shaban Abdella, Walid Faculty of Medicine - Al Azhar University, Damietta, Egypt , Gad, Elham A Department of Ophthalmology - Faculty of Medicine - Benha University, Banha, Egypt
Abstract :
Purpose: To discuss the ocular manifestations provoked by novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID‑19) disease in humans, the natural history of the disease in the eye, and its treatment.
Methods: We designed a narrative review of the ocular manifestations of COVID‑19 based on the literature published till July 30, 2020. The
databases were PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. The inclusion criteria were (1) all types of clinical
studies and (2) the topic was COVID‑19 and its association to the eye regarding the current guidelines.
Results: From 168 abstracts screened, 61 papers fully filled the inclusion criteria after the full‑text screening. The 61 records include 13 case
reports, 17 prospective (case series or cross‑sectional) studies, 8 retrospective studies, 12 literature reviews (one systematic review), and 11 letters
to the editor. The majority of the papers agreed that ophthalmic manifestations due to COVID‑19 were few and rarely encountered. The main
ocular pathology seemed to be conjunctivitis, where the viral polymerase chain reaction also happened to be most detectable. Posterior segment
or neuro‑ophthalmic manifestations were scarce. Viral genome detection in the eye as well as viral portal of entry to the globe is still vague.
Conclusion: The exact incidence of ocular manifestations in COVID‑19 disease is uncertain. Conjunctivitis is the most prevalent ocular
manifestation. It is still a debate whether the eye is a portal of entry for infection.
Keywords :
Conjunctivitis , Contact lens , Novel coronavirus 2019 , Ocular transmission, Retina , Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 , Tear
