Are you protecting your eyes against Covid-19?
OPTHALMOLOGISTS EXPLAIN WHY INFECTION IS POSSIBLE
As we protect ourselves from Covid-19 with masks and gloves, new studies suggest that we should be covering our eyes as well.
A study conducted by a team of doctors headed by Dr Elia Duh at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, US, examined the eyes of 10 deceased Covid-19 patients and five tissue samples of patients who did not have coronavirus to determine the presence of ACE 2 receptors on the eyes’ conjunctival surface that the virus could latch on to.
The jury is still out, but the consensus among opthalmologists is that there is a reasonable chance of getting infected with Covid-19 through your eyes.
Conjunctiva is vulnerable
Dr Elizabeth Bradley, an ophthalmologist at Mayo Clinic in the US, told Gulf News, “The transparent membrane that lines our eyelids and covers the white part of our eyes is called conjunctiva. It’s a mucosal lining similar to the lining in our nose and mouth.
“The conjunctival membrane does get infected by other adenoviruses such as common cold and herpes simplex, so it is possible that the Sars Cov2 virus can infect the eyes.”
Dr Bradley reasoned that when an infected person coughs or sneezes, the virus is likely to be absorbed by the conjunctiva even if a mask covers the mouth and nose.
“It is also possible that a part of the viral load from a Covid-19 patient is shed from the eye,” Dr Bradley said. “Besides that there is a risk of contracting the virus when people who may have come in contact with a contaminated surface happen to touch their face or eyes.”
‘Pink eye’ syndrome
Dr Diljeet Kaur Gahir, specialist ophthalmologist at Prime Hospital, Dubai, reported that a lot of patients testing positive for Covid-19, displayed the classic ‘pink eye’.
“These patients with fever and cold also had watery eyes with slightly inflamed conjunctiva like we see in a conjunctivitis infection. There have been residues of other viruses found in the tear and mucous lining of the eyes. Excessive tears get into the throat and are absorbed into the respiratory tract. So there is a high chance of the infection that may be in the eyes getting into the respiratory tract,” she explained.
Aerosol effect
Dr Gahir said that Dubai Health Authority (DHA) guidelines were being followed to avoid contraction of infection through the eyes.
“Many ophthalmic surgeries like dental and ENT generate some aerosol effect. The aerosol impact happens when high-powered tools are used in surgery because very fine particles get airborne under pressue and remain suspended in air trapped in moisture droplets.”
As per DHA guidelines to avoid any aerosol contamination, doctors are required to space out consultations with at least a 20-minute gap and in that period thoroughly sanitise and clean consultation rooms.
Dr Bradley added that as per the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, proper eye protection such as a full face shield is an intrinsic part of the personal protection equipment (PPE) used in hospitals.
Both Dr Bradley and Dr Gahir advised certain basic precautions for the members of the community. “Apart from face masks and gloves it is important to wear some eye protection to avoid any contamination through the eyes, when one is at a public place like a grocery or a super market,” said Dr Bradley.
Are contact lenses safe?
Dr Gahir cautioned users of contact lenses. “In these times it is advisable to wear additional zero-power glasses to shield the eyes. Or else, contact lens users can switch to glasses for the time-being. These are a more effective shield for the eyes. Besides with contact lenses, the chances of irritation to the conjunctiva is likely and users might feel like adjusting their lens or touching their eyes, which makes them susceptible to infection,” she explained.
Better safe than sorry
The jury is still out on whether eyes are a conduit for the Covid-19 infection. However, many passengers on repatriation flights who wore masks and gloves still contracted the virus, giving credence to the theory that eyes are another route for infection. So until conclusively proved or disproved, eye specialists advise people to shield their eyes.
The conjunctival membrane does get infected by other adenoviruses such as common cold and herpes simplex, so it is possible that the SarsCov2 virus also can infect the eyes.