Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
Med Sci Monit. 2021 Sep 11;27:e931863. doi: 10.12659/MSM.931863.
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, numerous reports of ocular anomalies occurring in patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have emerged. The most frequently reported pathology is conjunctivitis, which may be the first or only clinical manifestation of the disease. Involvement of SARS-CoV-2 in development of alterations in other ocular structures was suggested, including the cornea, the retina, and blood vessels. Possible mechanisms include direct activity of the viral agent, as well as systemic inflammatory response with accompanying thromboembolic complications. Genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 was detected in ocular secretions of infected individuals, including asymptomatic patients. Moreover, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a receptor protein used by the virus to enter the cell, has been found on the surface of various structures of the eye, which indicates a risk of transmission through ocular tissues. Therefore, it is crucial to use eye protection by medical professionals having contact with potentially infected patients. This paper is a review of the literature regarding ocular manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection and a summary of the current state of knowledge about possibility of transmission from an ophthalmology point of view. For data collection, a thorough PubMed search was performed, using the key words: "COVID ocular", "COVID eye", "SARS-CoV-2 ocular", and "SARS-CoV-2 eye". Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 infection may manifest itself in various ocular conditions. Eye protection should not be neglected, as recent studies suggest the eye as a potential route of transmission. Further search for adequate safety measures in ophthalmology practice is required.
在 2019 冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行期间，有大量报告称严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2（SARS-CoV-2）感染患者出现眼部异常。最常报告的病理学改变是结膜炎，它可能是该病的首发或唯一临床表现。SARS-CoV-2 可能参与了其他眼部结构改变的发生，包括角膜、视网膜和血管。可能的发病机制包括病毒因子的直接作用，以及伴有血栓栓塞并发症的全身炎症反应。在感染个体的眼部分泌物中，包括无症状患者，均检测到 SARS-CoV-2 的遗传物质。此外，病毒用来进入细胞的受体蛋白血管紧张素转换酶 2（ACE2）已在眼部各种结构的表面被发现，这表明通过眼部组织传播的风险。因此，接触可能感染患者的医务人员使用眼部防护至关重要。本文综述了 SARS-CoV-2 感染的眼部表现的文献，并从眼科角度总结了目前关于传播可能性的知识现状。为了收集数据，我们在 PubMed 上进行了彻底的搜索，使用的关键词是：“COVID 眼”、“COVID 眼部”、“SARS-CoV-2 眼”和“SARS-CoV-2 眼部”。结论：SARS-CoV-2 感染可能表现为各种眼部疾病。不应忽视眼部防护，因为最近的研究表明眼部是潜在的传播途径。需要进一步寻找在眼科实践中使用的适当安全措施。
