What eye problems can coronavirus cause?

COVID-19 can cause complications in any part of the human body, including the eyes. Here are some respective problems that may arise due to the coronavirus.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is one of the most common eye symptoms of the coronavirus. Sometimes people who experience this symptom do not have other symptoms such as fever, fatigue, or breathing problems, experts say.

Dry eyes

Although experts’ views differ on this symptom, the possibility of a link between dry eyes and the coronavirus cannot be ruled out. About 10% of those infected with the coronavirus have dry eyes. This may be due to a link between COVID-19 and the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2). The latter, which is associated with contracting the coronavirus, has also been found in cells of the conjunctiva, the lining of the eye, and the inside of the eyelid, experts say.

Sensitivity to light

People infected with the coronavirus can also develop itchy eyes and hypersensitivity to light.

Eye pain

Eye pain is one of the most important eye symptoms in people infected with the coronavirus. Eye pain is an uncomfortable feeling in or around one or both eyes. Describing this symptom, patients report that they appear to have sand in their eyes.

Endophthalmitis

Endophthalmitis can be one of the rare symptoms of the coronavirus. Some patients develop inflammation of the cornea, which then causes endophthalmitis, an infection of the tissues or fluids inside the eyeball. But this is an unusual symptom of the disease. Common symptoms of endophthalmitis include redness, pain, swelling of the eyelids, drooping eyes, and vision disorders.

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