Researchers enrolled 40 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 using a nasopharyngeal, real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay in a prospective, cross-sectional study from February to June 2021. In addition to a comprehensive eye examination, researchers took tear samples 48 hours after collecting naso-oropharyngeal samples and submitted them for RT-PCR analysis.
According to the study, 65% of subjects had moderate COVID-19, 15% had severe COVID-19, and the rest had light COVID-19. Five individuals tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in their tear samples, but only one showed illness symptoms. However, only one of seven patients with ocular symptoms such as dry eyes, conjunctivitis, and lid edema tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in their tears.
Ocular Transmission Risk of COVID-19
“Despite the low prevalence of the virus found in tears, there is a potential risk of transmission through ocular routes,” the study authors wrote. “It is noteworthy that we observed a COVID-19-positive tear sample in patients with and without ocular symptoms. Therefore, it is important to consider the possibility of ocular transmission even in the absence of ocular manifestations.”
References:
- 10.7759/cureus.44589
Source: Medindia
