ABSTRACT
In this review, a summary is presented of the main reports regarding the potential ocular manifestations of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Scientific evidence is based on letters to the editor, clinical cases and case series, cross-sectional, and a few longitudinal studies. To date, it includes viral conjunctivitis, immune conjunctivitis, and oculomotor palsies (OCP) due to the novel coronavirus. Retinopathy is discussed, but no cases have been published yet. A viral conjunctivitis outbreak can be isolated or associated with the systemic picture, mainly pulmonary, before or after the onset of respiratory symptoms. It can be both unilateral and bilateral, follicles are typical, and duration is variable between 5 and 21 days. Immune-mediated conjunctivitis consists of eye redness, together with erythroderma and fever. It appears more frequently in children, and has been associated with a “Kawasaki-like” disease and toxic shock syndrome. OCP can present on its own, or as part of Miller-Fisher syndrome, along with ataxia, and hyporeflexia. Ophthalmologists have a considerable risk of developing COVID-19 due to close contact with the patient, exposure to tears and eye secretions, and the use of various pieces of equipment and devices susceptible to contamination. Resumen En esta revisión resumimos las principales publicaciones que informan sobre las potenciales manifestaciones oculares de la enfermedad por el nuevo coronavirus (COVID-19). La evidencia científica se basa en cartas al editor, casos clínicos aislados y series de casos, principalmente de corte transversal. Hasta la fecha, incluimos la conjuntivitis viral, una conjuntivitis inmunomediada y parálisis oculomotoras (POM). Se discute la posibilidad de retinopatía. La conjuntivitis viral puede aparecer aislada o asociada al cuadro sistémico, principalmente pulmonar, antes o después del inicio de los síntomas respiratorios. Puede ser tanto unilateral como bilateral, es típica la presencia de folículos, y presenta una duración variable entre 5 y 20 días. La conjuntivitis inmunomediada consiste en un enrojecimiento ocular acompañada de eritrodermia y febrícula. Aparece más frecuentemente en los niños y se ha asociado a un cuadro «Kawasaki-like» y síndrome del shock tóxico. Las POM pueden presentarse de forma aislada, o formando parte de un síndrome de Miller-Fisher, junto con ataxia e hiporreflexia. Los oftalmólogos presentamos un riesgo considerable de contraer la COVID-19 debido a un contacto estrecho con el paciente, exposición a las lágrimas y a las secreciones oculares y al uso de multitud de equipos y aparatos susceptibles de contaminarse.
ABSTRACT
In this review, a summary is presented of the main reports regarding the potential ocular manifestations of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Scientific evidence is based on letters to the editor, clinical cases and case series, cross-sectional, and a few longitudinal studies. To date, it includes viral conjunctivitis, immune conjunctivitis, and oculomotor palsies (OCP) due to the novel coronavirus. Retinopathy is discussed. A viral conjunctivitis outbreak can be isolated or associated with the systemic picture, mainly pulmonary, before or after the onset of respiratory symptoms. It can be both unilateral and bilateral, follicles are typical, and duration is variable between 5 and 21 days. Immune-mediated conjunctivitis consists of eye redness, together with erythroderma and fever. It appears more frequently in children, and has been associated with a «Kawasaki-like¼ disease and toxic shock syndrome. OCP can present on its own, or as part of Miller-Fisher syndrome, along with ataxia, and hyporeflexia. Ophthalmologists have a considerable risk of developing COVID-19 due to close contact with the patient, exposure to tears and eye secretions, and the use of various pieces of equipment and devices susceptible to contamination.