If you've had COVID-19, you might want to get your eyes checked. SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes the disease, can infect the inside of the eye, according to a study published in April in the journal PLOS Pathogens. This is true even if the virus didn't enter the body through the surface of the eye.
A research team led by Dr. Pawan Kumar Singh, assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, found that inhaled viruses can reach highly protected organs such as the eyes and cause long-term damage. SARS-CoV-2 does this by breaching the blood-retinal barrier, a layer of cells that protects the retina, the light-sensing part of the eye, from microbial pathogens.
“Until now, researchers have focused primarily on exposure of the virus to the ocular surface,” Singh said in a news release. “However, our findings reveal that SARS-CoV-2 not only reaches the eye during systemic infection, but also triggers an excessive inflammatory response in the retina, causing cell death at the blood-retinal barrier. The longer viral remnants remain in the eye, the greater the risk of damage to the retina and visual function.”
Using a humanized mouse model, Singh and his team showed that the long-term presence of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein can lead to problems such as:
Retinal artery and vein occlusion: an “eye stroke” that occurs when a blood vessel in the retina becomes blocked. Retinal microaneurysm: swelling and leakage of tiny blood vessels called capillaries at the back of the eye, common in people with diabetes. Vascular leakage: leakage from blood vessels in the eye.
“We recommend that people diagnosed with COVID-19 see an ophthalmologist to check for signs of pathological changes in the retina,” Singh said. “Even in asymptomatic people, COVID-19-related complications may cause damage to the eyes over time.”
What are the symptoms of retinal disease?
According to the National Eye Institute, the following symptoms may be signs of retinal disease:
Blindness Blurred or wavy vision “Curtains” or shadows in your vision Duller colors Flashing lights in one or both eyes Floating spots in your vision Loss of central vision Sudden increase in floaters Sudden decrease in vision
If you don't have a regular eye doctor, your doctor can refer you to one and help determine the best treatment.
While the blood-retinal barrier in immunocompromised people is known to be more susceptible to bacteria and viruses, MU claims that Singh's study is the first to suggest that SARS-CoV-2 can infect the blood-retinal barrier in healthy people. That said, people with weakened immune systems or those with diabetes or high blood pressure may face more severe COVID-related eye health issues if left untreated.
“Now that we know the risk of COVID-19 to the retina, our goal is to gain a better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which this virus breaches the blood-retinal barrier and causes the associated pathological outcomes, which will help us develop therapies to prevent and treat COVID-19 eye complications before they damage patients' vision,” Singh said.
For more information on COVID-19:
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