Pinkeye emerging as symptom of spreading COVID-19 variant
A common, mild malady is yet another symptom people should watch for in the fight against COVID-19, experts say.
Conjunctivitis — commonly known as pinkeye and typically brought on by a virus, bacteria or allergies — can be a symptom of a COVID-19 infection.
And public health leaders are emphasizing the importance of taking note of the potential relationship between pinkeye symptoms and the coronavirus as a new variant spreads.
Is pink eye a COVID-19 symptom?
“COVID conjunctivitis,” or pinkeye, “is one of the ocular manifestations of the coronavirus,” per the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and it is a form of viral conjunctivitis.
“There are reports in which conjunctivitis was the only sign of COVID-19,” the group says. “Other reports showed that the patients of COVID-19 developed conjunctivitis later in their course of disease after hospitalization.”
Research has shown, according to the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Truhlsen Eye Institute, that the COVID-19 virus can be “found in the eye’s tear film,” triggering pinkeye symptoms.
“It’s important to note that while eye symptoms have been reported in relation to positive COVID-19 cases, it is uncommon for it to be the only symptom,” the researchers say.
“Although pinkeye seems to be one of the more common eye symptoms, it occurs in a low percentage of people. Research also indicates it may be more common in people with severe cases of COVID-19.”
Recently, pinkeye has gotten more attention as a COVID-19 symptom amid the emergence of the XBB.1.16 variant, known as “Arcturus.”
In a statement late last month, the Los Angeles health department said while “it is too early to know with certainty if XBB.1.16 is truly associated with higher rates of conjunctivitis,” it’s important to take the symptom seriously in order to limit the variant’s spread.
Pinkeye symptoms
Common symptoms of pinkeye, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, include:
Pink or red discoloration in one or both eyes
A gritty feeling and/or itching, irritation or burning in one or both eyes
Clear, thin drainage of liquid and increased shedding of tears and/or stringy and/or thick, white or green discharge from the eyes
Eyelid swelling and/or eyelids that are matted together in the morning
Blurred vision
Do you need to go to the doctor for pinkeye?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that you should go to the doctor if you have multiple symptoms of pinkeye and your symptoms “get worse or don’t improve, including pinkeye thought to be caused by bacteria which does not improve after 24 hours of antibiotic use.”
Those who are immunocompromised should also seek treatment if they’re symptomatic.
“Most cases of viral conjunctivitis are mild,” the CDC notes, and “the infection will usually clear up in 7 to 14 days without treatment and without any longterm consequences.”
“However, in some cases, viral conjunctivitis can take 2 to 3 weeks or more to clear up,” the agency adds. “A doctor can prescribe antiviral medication to treat more serious forms of conjunctivitis.”
Mild cases “often improve in 2 to 5 days without treatment but can take 2 weeks to go away completely,” the CDC says.
Antibiotic treatments include topical eye drops or ointments.