Dry eye symptoms are prevalent in moderate-severe COVID-19, while SARS-COV-2 presence is higher in mild COVID-19: Possible ocular transmission risk of COVID-19

• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28649
• Publication Date: 2024-03-27T04:25:47Z
• Authors: Rina La Distia Nora; Syaffa Sadida Zahra; Mei Riasanti; Aliya Fatimah; Rani Dwi Ningtias; Fera Ibrahim; Budiman Bela; R.R. Diah Handayani; Andi Yasmon; Made Susiyanti; Lukman Edwar; Yulia Aziza; Ratna Sitompul
• Keywords: 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak; Pandemic; Betacoronavirus; Sars virus

To evaluate the correlation between dry eye symptoms and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection to assess real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT‒PCR) of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) from conjunctival swab. A prospective observational case series study was conducted all suspected confirmed COVID-19 patients Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) Universitas Indonesia (RSUI). On first day visit (day 0), systemic clinical naso-oropharyngeal (NO) RT‒PCR results will classify subjects as non-, suspected, or (mild, moderate, severe) COVID-19. In patients, we determined based on Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) followed up 7(day 7) 14 days 14) after visit. When it technically possible, also examined objective measurements: tear meniscus height (TMH), noninvasive Keratograph® break-up time (NIKBUT), ocular redness. Additionally, took swab samples for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR in patients. The OSDI scores 157 decreased across 0, 7, (median (interquartile range): 2.3 (0-8), 0 (0-3), (0-0), p value < 0.0001 (D0 vs D14). moderate-severe group had a higher score than other groups at median D0 (15.6 0-2.3), this pattern consistently seen follow-up D7 D14. However, complaints were not correlated with three measurements mild-moderate NO positive 32 (20.4%) namely, 13 19 mild respectively. Positive observed 7/157 (4.5%) 1 non-COVID-19 6 group. early phase infection, experience symptoms, which have no measurements. can be detected normal-to-mild COVID-19, shows risk transmission.