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Ocular Involvement of SARS-CoV-2 in a Polish Cohort of COVID-19-Positive Patients

Author

Listed:
  • Joanna Dolar-Szczasny

    (Department of General Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-079 Lublin, Poland
    These authors equally contributed.)

  • Mario D. Toro

    (Department of General Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-079 Lublin, Poland
    Faculty of Medical Sciences, Collegium Medicum, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, 01-815 Warsaw, Poland
    These authors equally contributed.)

  • Anna Dworzańska

    (Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland)

  • Tomasz Wójtowicz

    (Department of Ophthalmology, Specialist Hospital of Radom, 26-610 Radom, Poland)

  • Izabela Korona-Glowniak

    (Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland)

  • Rafał Sawicki

    (Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland)

  • Anastazja Boguszewska

    (Department of Virology with SARS Laboratory, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland)

  • Małgorzata Polz-Dacewicz

    (Department of Virology with SARS Laboratory, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland)

  • Krzysztof Tomasiewicz

    (Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland)

  • Wojciech Załuska

    (Department of Nephrology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland)

  • Robert Rejdak

    (Department of General Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-079 Lublin, Poland)

  • Paola Bagnoli

    (Department of Biology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy)

  • Dario Rusciano

    (Sooft Italia SpA, Research Center, 95123 Catania, Italy)

Abstract

The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 responsible for the current human COVID-19 pandemic has shown tropism toward different organs with variable efficiency, eyes included. The purpose of this study has been to investigate the presence of detectable SARS-CoV-2 infection in ocular swabs in patients affected by COVID-19. A consecutive series of 74 COVID-19-positive patients (age 21–89) were enrolled at two Polish COVID-19 hospitals for 4 months and were characterized by PCR for the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 genetic material in nasopharyngeal (NP) and ocular swabs, while their respiratory and ocular symptoms were noted. Almost 50% of them presented with severe/critical respiratory involvement, and some degree of eye disease. No tight correlation was observed between the presence of ocular and respiratory symptoms. Three male patients presenting with severe/critical lung disease tested positive in ocular swab, however with mild/moderate ocular symptoms. In conclusion, our study lends further support to the view that overt ocular infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is not such a frequent occurrence.

Suggested Citation

  • Joanna Dolar-Szczasny & Mario D. Toro & Anna Dworzańska & Tomasz Wójtowicz & Izabela Korona-Glowniak & Rafał Sawicki & Anastazja Boguszewska & Małgorzata Polz-Dacewicz & Krzysztof Tomasiewicz & Wojcie, 2021. "Ocular Involvement of SARS-CoV-2 in a Polish Cohort of COVID-19-Positive Patients," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:2916-:d:515883
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Karla Romero Starke & Gabriela Petereit-Haack & Melanie Schubert & Daniel Kämpf & Alexandra Schliebner & Janice Hegewald & Andreas Seidler, 2020. "The Age-Related Risk of Severe Outcomes Due to COVID-19 Infection: A Rapid Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-24, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Anahita Bajka & Maximilian Robert Justus Wiest & Timothy Hamann & Mario Damiano Toro & Sandrine Anne Zweifel, 2021. "Assessment of Patients’ Confidence Regarding a New Triage Concept in a Medical Retina Clinic during the First COVID-19 Outbreak," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-11, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; eye; lung; PCR;
    All these keywords.

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