• Alexander C Rokohl, Niklas Loreck, Philomena A Wawer Matos, Joel M Mor, Sarah Zwingelberg, Rafael S Grajewski, Claus Cursiefen, and Ludwig M Heindl.
• Zentrum für Augenheilkunde, Universität zu Köln, Medizinische Fakultät und Uniklinik Köln, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924, Köln, Deutschland. alexander.rokohl@uk-koeln.de.
• Ophthalmologe. 2020 Jul 1; 117 (7): 642-647.

AbstractThe severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has led to a worldwide pandemic. This pandemic presents a huge challenge for the healthcare system and also for ophthalmologists. Previous studies and case reports indicated that SARS-CoV‑2 also infects the conjunctiva resulting in conjunctivitis. In addition, infectious virus particles in the tear fluid can be potential sources of infection; however, the detection of SARS-CoV‑2 RNA in the tear fluid has rarely been successful. Although isolated conjunctival involvement is highly unlikely, at the current point in time of the COVID-19 pandemic, practically every patient examined by an ophthalmologist could be infected with SARS-CoV‑2. Therefore, protective and hygiene measures should currently be consistently followed to minimize the risk of spreading the virus. Currently, there are no treatment recommendations for conjunctivitis associated with COVID-19. Tear substitutes might be helpful for symptom relief but there is no evidence for a topical antiviral therapy. In the future ophthalmologists could play a decisive role in the screening of maculopathies that might occur during COVID-19 treatment using chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine.

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