SARS-CoV-2 in the ocular surface of COVID-19 patients

Hua-Tao Xie, Shi-Yun Jiang, Kang-Kang Xu, Xin Liu, Bing Xu, Lin Wang, Ming-Chang Zhang, Hua-Tao Xie, Shi-Yun Jiang, Kang-Kang Xu, Xin Liu, Bing Xu, Lin Wang, Ming-Chang Zhang

Abstract

The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread globally, while the routes of transmission of this virus are still controversial. We enrolled 33 patients, without any ocular manifestation, with their ocular surface swabs collected for virus detection. RNA was detected strong positive in samples of both eyes from two patients. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 may exist in the normal ocular surface of COVID-19 patients, suggesting that this virus might be spread through conjunctival contact.

Keywords: COVID-19; Ocular surface; SARS-CoV-2.

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.

© The Author(s) 2020.

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Source: PubMed

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