SARS-CoV-2 in the ocular surface of COVID-19 patients

SARS-CoV-2 in the ocular surface of COVID-19 patients

Lin Wang, Xin Liu, Bing Xu, Kangkang Xu, Hua-Tao Xie, Ming-Chang Zhang, Shi-Yun Jiang

Abstract The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread globally, while the routes of transmission of this virus are still controversial. We enrolled 33 patients, without any ocular manifestation, with their ocular surface swabs collected for virus detection. RNA was detected strong positive in samples of both eyes from two patients. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 may exist in the normal ocular surface of COVID-19 patients, suggesting that this virus might be spread through conjunctival contact.

2020

ocular surface, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19

DOI: 10.1186/s40662-020-00189-0

Eye and Vision

BMC

Ophthalmology