Marzoog BA. Manifestations of coronavirus infection disease-19 in anterior eye segment: An up-to-date review.
Oman J Ophthalmol 2024;
17:4-10. [PMID:
38524336 PMCID:
PMC10957037 DOI:
10.4103/ojo.ojo_237_22]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus infection disease-19 (COVID-19) is a worldwide catastrophic emergency that first appeared in late 2019, in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 is a multitropism disease that first affects lung tissue. However, extrapulmonary manifestations have been suspected from the first COVID-19 cases. The ocular signs and symptoms were from the early changes that occur during the course of the disease. Changes in the anterior eye segment have a relatively higher incidence than the posterior eye segment. Of which, conjunctivitis, COVID-19 pharyngioceratoconjuctivitis, iridocyclitis, corneal punctate epitheliopathy, and pathomorphological changes in the physio-anatomy of the anterior eye segment. The potential pathogenesis includes direct penetration of the virus into the eye (conjunctiva, lumbus, and cornea) or due to a systemic pathway through viremia, as well as due to autoimmune antibodies against the ocular structure (immune privilege). The presence of ocular manifestations of the external anterior fibrous layer suggests a mild course of the disease.
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