Manifestations of coronavirus infection disease-19 in anterior eye segment: An up-to-date review

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Infectious Diseases
• Virology

Background:

• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in late 2019, causing a global health crisis.
• While primarily affecting the lungs, extrapulmonary manifestations, including ocular symptoms, have been observed.
• Ocular signs were among the early indicators noted in COVID-19 patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the occurrence and characteristics of ocular manifestations in COVID-19 patients.
• To explore the potential pathogenesis of eye involvement in COVID-19.
• To determine if ocular signs correlate with disease severity.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical data from COVID-19 patients with ocular symptoms.
• Analysis of anterior and posterior eye segment changes.
• Pathological and immunological investigations into viral entry and autoimmune responses.

Main Results:

• Anterior segment changes were more common than posterior segment changes.
• Observed conditions included conjunctivitis, pharyngoconjunctivitis, iridocyclitis, and corneal epitheliopathy.
• Potential mechanisms involve direct viral invasion or systemic/autoimmune pathways.

Conclusions:

• Ocular manifestations, especially in the anterior segment, are a recognized feature of COVID-19.
• Conjunctivitis and other anterior segment findings may suggest a milder disease course.
• Understanding ocular involvement aids in comprehensive COVID-19 patient management.