Open AccessRisk of SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission from donor corneal tissue: A review
Author(s) -
A. K. Salz,
Manisha Acharya,
Nicola Hofmann,
Ilka Wittmershaus,
Veena Sangwan,
Martin Börgel,
Umang Mathur
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
indian journal of ophthalmology/indian journal of ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.542
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1998-3689
pISSN - 0301-4738
DOI - 10.4103/ijo.ijo_3249_20
Subject(s) - cornea , transmission (telecommunications) , coronavirus , medicine , corneal transplantation , virus , outbreak , virology , eye bank , covid-19 , transplantation , sars virus , pandemic , disease , intensive care medicine , ophthalmology , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , surgery , electrical engineering , engineering
Since the outbreak of respiratory coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, there is an ongoing discussion about whether the virus could be transmitted through corneal transplantation from donor to recipient. The purpose of this review was to summarize the current knowledge in the scientific community to provide aid in risk evaluation for potential virus transfer by corneal transplants. Literature was searched in PubMed.gov for relevant articles on coronavirus in conjunction with cornea processing, cornea transplantation and eye banking. Further, guidelines of health authorities and eye banking associations were reviewed. Studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be detected in ocular swabs and/or fluid of patients with COVID-19. However, the risk of SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission through these ocular tissues or fluid of patients is judged differently. To date, per literature and official guidelines, no evidence of viable virus in ocular tissue and no cases of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via tissue preparations have been reported.