The COVID-19 virus, the cause of the current coronavirus pandemic situation that has changed the world as we know it, could manifest as conjunctivitis. However, this manifestation of the coronavirus as conjunctivitis is not common, affecting about two out of ten cases.
In this case, patients affected by COVID-19 may manifest – either at the beginning or during the course of the disease – a viral conjunctivitis in which the coronavirus can be transmitted through tears. In turn, and through the conjunctiva, the virus can reach the general circulation of the patient, since the conjunctiva resembles a sponge that absorbs germs, and in this case, the virus can easily penetrate it and infect the person.
Asymptomatic COVID-19 patients, or patients who are incubating the virus, can transmit the disease through their tears. Thus, close contact, such as when a family member or healthcare worker assists the patient, can lead to transmission. In the case of ophthalmological procedures, the risk is even greater, as the patient can easily transmit the disease.
To avoid these risks, it is essential to take protective measures in cases of red eye during the coronavirus pandemic.
- Check that the patient with conjunctivitis has fever, at least 37º, and/or comes from an area where the coronavirus outbreak has been detected.
- Patients presenting with any type of conjunctivitis should be attended by healthcare professionals with appropriate protective equipment: goggles, gloves and protective masks. In turn, all staff and family members who are in contact with these patients (feeding, administering drops or medicines…) should also use these safety measures to avoid possible infection.
- Suspects are those who by their occupation (health professionals) are or have been in contact with patients confirmed or suspected of having this disease. Cases in which this suspicion is present should be isolated to a medical unit, until their positive infectious character is confirmed.
- Both positive and suspected cases should be placed under observation and isolation for at least fifteen days. During these two weeks, they will be monitored to see if the disease develops and to avoid infecting anyone else. If you are in a hospital, isolation should take place in a waiting room.
Coronavirus conjunctivitis is a follicular-type conjunctivitis, similar to other viral conjunctivitis. The signs of this conjunctivitis are tearing, red eye, mild ocular discomfort without pain, and NO discharge. The clinical picture is bilateral and not severe.
As in other cases of viral conjunctivitis, coronavirus conjunctivitis has no specific treatment, and there are no antiviral treatments. As a remedy, hygienic measures such as the application of very cold compresses or gauze and mild topical anti-inflammatory drugs should be sufficient to alleviate the discomfort until the conjunctivitis disappears, which will last between seven and ten days.
The most important aspect of coronavirus conjunctivitis is that it can infect those close to the patient through contact with tears, either directly or from the patient’s own hands, or from handkerchiefs used to touch the eyes. Therefore, the preventive management of these patients is the same as for general respiratory disease, and requires isolation of the patients.
For more information, consult an ophthalmology specialist.