Ocular manifestations of a hospitalised patient with confirmed 2019 novel coronavirus disease.

To report the ocular characteristics and the presence of viral RNA of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in conjunctival swab specimens in a patient with confirmed 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). A 30-year-old man with confirmed COVID-19 and bilateral acute conjunctivitis which occurred 13 days after illness onset. Based on detailed ophthalmic examination, reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) was performed to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus in conjunctival swabs. The ocular characteristics, presence of viral RNA and viral dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in the conjunctival specimens were evaluated. Slit lamp examination showed bilateral acute follicular conjunctivitis. RT-PCR assay demonstrated the presence of viral RNA in conjunctival specimen 13 days after onset (cycle threshold value: 31). The conjunctival swab specimens remained positive for SARS-CoV-2 on 14 and 17 days after onset. On day 19, RT-PCR result was negative for SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 is capable of causing ocular complications such as viral conjunctivitis in the middle phase of illness. Precautionary measures are recommended when examining infected patients throughout the clinical course of the infection. However, conjunctival sampling might not be useful for early diagnosis because the virus may not appear initially in the conjunctiva.

Chen L ，Liu M ，Zhang Z ，Qiao K ，Huang T ，Chen M ，Xin N ，Huang Z ，Liu L ，Zhang G ，Wang J ... -  《-》

Presence of viral RNA of SARS-CoV-2 in conjunctival swab specimens of COVID-19 patients.

Kumar K ，Prakash AA ，Gangasagara SB ，Rathod SBL ，Ravi K ，Rangaiah A ，Shankar SM ，Basawarajappa SG ，Bhushan S ，Neeraja TG ，Khandenahalli S ，Swetha M ，Gupta P ，Sampritha UC ，Prasad GNS ，Jayanthi CR ... -  《-》

Acute Onset of Bilateral Follicular Conjunctivitis in two Patients with Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Infections.

Lim LW ，Tan GS ，Yong V ，Anderson DE ，Lye DC ，Young B ，Agrawal R ... -  《-》

Evaluation of Conjunctival Swab PCR Results in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Atum M ，Boz AAE ，Çakır B ，Karabay O ，Köroğlu M ，Öğütlü A ，Alagöz G ... -  《-》

A Patient With Bilateral Conjunctivitis Positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in a Conjunctival Sample.

To present a patient with bilateral conjunctivitis, testing positive for viral RNA of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in both nasopharyngeal and conjunctival samples. A 40-year-old man with bilateral acute conjunctivitis and suspicious signs of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presented to the hospital. A detailed ophthalmic examination was performed. Samples obtained from conjunctival and nasopharyngeal swabs were tested by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Ocular findings and duration of the presence of viral RNA in the conjunctival specimens were evaluated at follow-up visits. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy revealed bilateral acute follicular conjunctivitis. The RT-PCR assay demonstrated the presence of viral RNA in the nasopharyngeal and conjunctival specimens at the initial visit and at the 4-day follow-up. Conjunctivitis findings were decreased after 4 days and recovered completely without any sequelae within10 days. The PCR results of both nasopharyngeal and conjunctiva specimens were negative for the viral RNA at 10 days. Bilateral conjunctivitis is rare in patients infected with COVID-19. Although it is difficult to detect viral RNA from conjunctival swabs, conjunctival secretions may be a source of contamination, and protective measures must be taken.

Sirakaya E ，Sahiner M ，Aslan Sirakaya H 《-》