On March 23, 2020, CNN reported that a nurse at a nursing home in Kirkland, Washington, recalled red eyes being a clinical sign in some elderly residents who had developed COVID-19. Twenty-nine people associated with the nursing home died from coronavirus complications, including 18 residents of the nursing home.
Pink eye and coronavirus
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recently alerted its members that COVID-19 might cause conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye. Conjunctivitis, the inflammation of the conjunctiva, can trigger redness and irritation in and around the eyes.
The conjunctiva is the clear, thin membrane that covers part of the front of the eye and the inner part of the eyelids. Viral conjunctivitis often accompanies the common cold, the flu and other virus driven infections.
The AAO notes, however, that it appears conjunctivitis “is an uncommon event” among COVID-19 patients. Health officials believe conjunctivitis develops in about 1% to 3% of those who’ve been infected with the virus, the group says.The virus can spread by touching fluid from an infected person’s eye or by touching objects that have been in contact with the fluid, the Academy says.
Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
Another possible indicator: recent travel to places that have experienced coronavirus outbreaks. These areas include U.S. hotspots like New York City, as well as China, Iran, Italy and South Korea.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology cites two recently published studies suggesting that there’s a connection between conjunctivitis and COVID-19:
A study published in the Journal of Medical Virology looked at 30 patients hospitalized in China for treatment of COVID-19. One of the patients had coronavirus identified in eye secretions. The researchers say this could mean the virus can infect the conjunctiva and cause conjunctivitis. Viral loads are most often identified in and transmitted through mucous membranes.
In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers discovered “conjunctival congestion” in nine of 1,099 patients with COVID-19. It’s worth noting that those with “conjunctival congestion” represented just 0.8% of the confirmed COVID-19 cases.
SEE RELATED: Coronavirus linked to pink eye: How to protect your eyes
Meanwhile, a JAMA Ophthalmology study published March 31, 2020, showed 12 of 38 COVID-19 patients treated Feb. 9-15, 2020, at a hospital in China had eye conditions consistent with conjunctivitis. For one patient, conjunctivitis was the first symptom.
Based on this early evidence, the ophthalmology group warns that patients with conjunctivitis “could represent cases of COVID-19.” Therefore, ophthalmologists and optometrists might be the first health care providers to evaluate patients possibly infected with COVID-19.
As explained by Rady’s Children Hospital–San Diego, viruses are the most common cause of conjunctivitis. Viral conjunctivitis may affect both eyes. Symptoms normally last five to seven days and include:
Redness in the whites of the eyes
Eyelid swelling
A sandy, gritty feeling in the eye
Tearing
Watery or slightly thick, whitish drainage
Dr. Chris Stansbury, an optometrist at West Virginia Eye Consultants, told TV station WCHS that if you suspect you have conjunctivitis, you should contact your eye doctor.
“I would not recommend going to the ER, because there you may come into contact with people who actually have coronavirus,” Stansbury says. “We can look at the eyes and begin to differentiate. Is it allergic? Viral? Bacterial? And then we’ll know how to treat you.”
Be sure to call or email your eye doctor before heading to his or her office. Many eye doctors have closed their offices amid the COVID-19 pandemic and are now diagnosing patients via virtual visits and telemedicine.
Pink eye secretions can spread coronavirus
Keep in mind that pink eye is highly contagious. It’s spread through contact with the eye secretions, which contains the virus (or bacteria) that causes conjunctivitis, the San Diego children’s hospital says.
“If you touch an infected eye, and then touch your other eye or an object while you have drainage on your hand, the virus or bacteria can be spread,” the hospital says.
Health experts primarily blame poor hand washing for the spread of pink eye. Sharing objects such as towels, washcloths, contact lens equipment, eye makeup and eye medicine with a person who has pink eye also can spread the infection, the children’s hospital says.
WORRIED ABOUT RED EYES? Call an eye doctor near you to find out if you need to seek medical attention.
Eyelid swelling
A sandy, gritty feeling in the eye
Tearing
Watery or slightly thick, whitish drainage
Dr. Chris Stansbury, an ophthalmologist at West Virginia Eye Consultants, told WCHS that if you think you have conjunctivitis, you should contact your ophthalmologist.
Keep in mind that pink eye is highly contagious. It’s spread through contact with the eye secretions, which contains the virus (or bacteria) that causes conjunctivitis, the San Diego children’s hospital says.
“If you touch an infected eye, and then touch your other eye or an object while you have drainage on your hand, the virus or bacteria can be spread,” the hospital says.
Health experts primarily blame poor hand washing for the spread of pink eye. Sharing objects such as towels, washcloths, contact lens equipment, eye makeup and eye medicine with a person who has pink eye also can spread the infection, the children’s hospital says.