The eye status in patients after new coronavirus infection

Abstract

Rationale: The emerging new coronavirus infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in a pandemic. Its clinical manifestations are highly variable and the death rate is high due to rapid progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Identified abnormalities of the eye are mainly related to conjunctival injury during manifestation of the disease.Aim: To study the eye abnormalities in patients who have undergone COVID-19.Materials and methods: Ophthalmological examination was performed in 23 patients (6 [26%] men and 17 [74%] women, median age 42.39 years) at days 44 to 85 after manifestation of COVID-19 infection in the Department of Ophthalmology, MONIKI. In addition to the standard ophthalmological examination, all patients were evaluated with optical coherence tomography (OCT), auto fluorescence, contrast and color sensitivity test with different light sources, and tear production assessment.Results: In the late convalescence period there were complaints of dry eyes and abnormal color perception, with visual acuity being unchanged. The OCT assessment the peripapillary retina identified small hyper-reflective foci in the inner layers.Conclusion: Eye disease in patients after COVID-19 is mainly related to the condition of the eye surface, abnormal color perception and abnormal architectonics of the inner retinal layers, which can persist for a long time during convalescence.

Keywords

• covid-19
• dry eye disease
• optical coherence tomography
• ophthalmology