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Ocular Involvement in COVID-19: A Systematic Review
17 Pages Posted: 18 May 2020
More...Abstract
Background: COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, a new coronavirus, starting in China. Due to the great variability in reports regarding the presence of COVID-19 in conjunctival secretions. A systematic review was performed with the available literature on ocular findings and the molecular diagnosis in ocular secretions.
Method: In this systematic review, online databases (PUBMED, Science Direct, Springer Link, Ovid and Google Scholar) were searched, studies indexed from March 6 2020 to March 31 2020. Quality appraisal of studies was performed using the recommendations established by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement.
Findings: Ten studies were identified after title, abstract and full text screening. Positive ocular secretion sample of SARS-Cov-2 and ocular symptoms due to Covid-19 were evaluated, finding a prevalence of 1.47% of SARS-CoV-2 in ocular secretions and no correlation with ocular symptoms, positive nasopharyngeal swab and illness severity. Conjunctivitis was the symptom reported more frequently among literature, nevertheless the most prevalent symptom was dry eye.
Interpretations: The prevalence of samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in tears or conjunctival secretions, verified by RT-PCR in patients with COVID-19 is low. Conjunctival sampling might not be useful for diagnosis. Clinicians should be aware of conjunctivitis, dry eye, conjunctival secretion and chemosis. Although the presence of the virus in ocular secretions is low, is still recommended for health care workers the eye-protection to avoid transmission through eyes.
Funding Statement: The study did not received any external funding.
Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Keywords: Ocular manifestations; Conjunctivitis; COVID19; SARS-CoV-2; Conjunctival RTPCR; Nasopharyngeal
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