Can the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Affect the Eyes? A Review of Coronaviruses and Ocular Implications in Humans and Animals

• Published in: Ocular immunology and inflammation Vol. 28; no. 3; pp. 391 - 395
• Main Authors: Seah, Ivan, Agrawal, Rupesh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 02.04.2020
• Subjects: Animals; Betacoronavirus - genetics; Coronavirus; coronavirus disease 2019; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - genetics; COVID-19; Epidemics; Eye - virology; Eye Infections, Viral - epidemiology; Eye Infections, Viral - virology; Global Health; Humans; Incidence; novel coronavirus; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral - genetics; Review; RNA, Viral - genetics; SARS-CoV-2; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2; COVID-19; novel coronavirus; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2; Coronavirus; coronavirus disease 2019
• ISSN: 0927-3948; 1744-5078; 1744-5078
• DOI: 10.1080/09273948.2020.1738501

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus (CoV) epidemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus - 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged from China. This virus causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Since then, there have been anecdotal reports of ocular infection. The ocular implications of human CoV infections have not been widely studied. However, CoVs have been known to cause various ocular infections in animals. Clinical entities such as conjunctivitis, anterior uveitis, retinitis, and optic neuritis have been documented in feline and murine models. In this article, the current evidence suggesting possible human CoV infection of ocular tissue is reviewed. The review article will also highlight animal CoVs and their associated ocular infections. We hope that this article will serve as a start for further research into the ocular implications of human CoV infections.