Open AccessAn Eye on COVID-19: A Meta-analysis of Positive Conjunctival Reverse Transcriptase–Polymerase Chain Reaction and SARS-CoV-2 Conjunctivitis Prevalence
Author(s) -
Nicole M Sopp,
Vandhana Sharda
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
optometry and vision science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.779
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1538-9235
pISSN - 1040-5488
DOI - 10.1097/opx.0000000000001687
Subject(s) - covid-19 , reverse transcriptase , virology , polymerase chain reaction , coronavirus , reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction , biology , medicine , genetics , gene , messenger rna , pathology , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , outbreak
This analysis and review demonstrate that, although emerging data indicate that the prevalence of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on the ocular surface and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) conjunctivitis is rare, the ocular surface remains of interest as a potential inoculation and transmission site for SARS-CoV-2. Continued safety precautions should be taken as more data become available.COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a novel, global pandemic that has infected millions and, up to this point, caused more than two million fatalities worldwide. The ocular surface has become of interest as a possible vector for transmission by acting as a direct inoculation site, being a conduit for the virus into the respiratory system or as a method of transmission from potentially infected conjunctiva or tears. The components necessary for SARS-CoV-2 to theoretically infect ocular tissues are present: binding receptors (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and cluster of differentiation 147) and mechanisms for cell entry (transmembrane protease serine 2 and cathepsin L). This meta-analysis of COVID-19 prevalence data indicates that SARS-CoV-2 RNA has been infrequently found in conjunctival samples when tested with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. This review estimates the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 on the ocular surface and prevalence of conjunctivitis in patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. There is much to be learned regarding ocular tropism of SARS-CoV-2.