Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Through the Ocular Route

Jing-Yu Qu, Hua-Tao Xie, Ming-Chang Zhang Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ming-Chang Zhang; Hua-Tao XieDepartment of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, T...

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Autores principales: Qu JY, Xie HT, Zhang MC
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Publicado: Dove Medical Press 2021
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spelling oai:doaj.org-article:97b04b81a07f4896b28e2d409d69ef632021-12-02T11:03:09ZEvidence of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Through the Ocular Route1177-5483https://doaj.org/article/97b04b81a07f4896b28e2d409d69ef632021-02-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.dovepress.com/evidence-of-sars-cov-2-transmission-through-the-ocular-route-peer-reviewed-article-OPTHhttps://doaj.org/toc/1177-5483Jing-Yu Qu, Hua-Tao Xie, Ming-Chang Zhang Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ming-Chang Zhang; Hua-Tao XieDepartment of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430022, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-27-85726662Email mingchangzhang@hotmail.com; huataoxie@hust.edu.cnPurpose: Currently, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is raging around the world. However, the transmission of its pathogen, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is not fully clear. It is still controversial whether the ocular transmission of SARS-CoV-2 exists. This review aimed to summarize the evidence of SARS-CoV-2 ocular transmission.Methods: Online articles were searched till October 23, 2020 in Pubmed, Embase, and websites of World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery under the search strategy of ((((“COVID-19”[Mesh]) OR (“SARS-CoV-2”[Mesh])) OR (2019 novel coronavirus)) OR (2019-nCoV)) AND ((((“Conjunctivitis”[Mesh]) OR (Ocular Surface)) OR (“Eye”[Mesh])) OR (“Ophthalmology”[Mesh])). The language was not restricted. After screening, 1445 records were excluded and 168 references original articles were finally included.Results: Cells of ocular surface express both the receptor of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), offering molecular bases for the ocular susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. Accumulated COVID-19 patients presented conjunctivitis as the initial or the only symptom. Whether COVID-19 patients had ocular symptoms or not, SARS-CoV-2 was detectable on the ocular surface, and the isolated virus was infectious, proving that the ocular surface can not only be a reservoir but also a source of contagion. SARS-CoV-2 may reach the ocular surface by hand-eye contact and aerosols. Once SARS-CoV-2 reaches the ocular surface, it may transfer to other systems through the nasolacrimal system or hematogenous metastasis.Conclusion: The ocular surface can serve as a reservoir and source of contagion for SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted to the ocular surface through hand-eye contact and aerosols, and then transfer to other systems through nasolacrimal route and hematogenous metastasis. The possibility of ocular transmission of SARS-CoV-2 cannot be ignored.Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, ocular transmission, conjunctivitis, ACE2, TMPRSS2Qu JYXie HTZhang MCDove Medical Pressarticlecovid-19sars-cov-2ocular transmissionconjunctivitisace2tmprss2OphthalmologyRE1-994ENClinical Ophthalmology, Vol Volume 15, Pp 687-696 (2021)
institution DOAJ
collection DOAJ
language EN
topic covid-19
sars-cov-2
ocular transmission
conjunctivitis
ace2
tmprss2
Ophthalmology
RE1-994
spellingShingle covid-19
sars-cov-2
ocular transmission
conjunctivitis
ace2
tmprss2
Ophthalmology
RE1-994
Qu JY
Xie HT
Zhang MC
Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Through the Ocular Route
description Jing-Yu Qu, Hua-Tao Xie, Ming-Chang Zhang Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ming-Chang Zhang; Hua-Tao XieDepartment of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430022, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-27-85726662Email mingchangzhang@hotmail.com; huataoxie@hust.edu.cnPurpose: Currently, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is raging around the world. However, the transmission of its pathogen, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is not fully clear. It is still controversial whether the ocular transmission of SARS-CoV-2 exists. This review aimed to summarize the evidence of SARS-CoV-2 ocular transmission.Methods: Online articles were searched till October 23, 2020 in Pubmed, Embase, and websites of World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery under the search strategy of ((((“COVID-19”[Mesh]) OR (“SARS-CoV-2”[Mesh])) OR (2019 novel coronavirus)) OR (2019-nCoV)) AND ((((“Conjunctivitis”[Mesh]) OR (Ocular Surface)) OR (“Eye”[Mesh])) OR (“Ophthalmology”[Mesh])). The language was not restricted. After screening, 1445 records were excluded and 168 references original articles were finally included.Results: Cells of ocular surface express both the receptor of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), offering molecular bases for the ocular susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. Accumulated COVID-19 patients presented conjunctivitis as the initial or the only symptom. Whether COVID-19 patients had ocular symptoms or not, SARS-CoV-2 was detectable on the ocular surface, and the isolated virus was infectious, proving that the ocular surface can not only be a reservoir but also a source of contagion. SARS-CoV-2 may reach the ocular surface by hand-eye contact and aerosols. Once SARS-CoV-2 reaches the ocular surface, it may transfer to other systems through the nasolacrimal system or hematogenous metastasis.Conclusion: The ocular surface can serve as a reservoir and source of contagion for SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted to the ocular surface through hand-eye contact and aerosols, and then transfer to other systems through nasolacrimal route and hematogenous metastasis. The possibility of ocular transmission of SARS-CoV-2 cannot be ignored.Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, ocular transmission, conjunctivitis, ACE2, TMPRSS2
format article
author Qu JY
Xie HT
Zhang MC
author_facet Qu JY
Xie HT
Zhang MC
author_sort Qu JY
title Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Through the Ocular Route
title_short Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Through the Ocular Route
title_full Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Through the Ocular Route
title_fullStr Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Through the Ocular Route
title_full_unstemmed Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Through the Ocular Route
title_sort evidence of sars-cov-2 transmission through the ocular route
publisher Dove Medical Press
publishDate 2021
url https://doaj.org/article/97b04b81a07f4896b28e2d409d69ef63
work_keys_str_mv AT qujy evidenceofsarscov2transmissionthroughtheocularroute
AT xieht evidenceofsarscov2transmissionthroughtheocularroute
AT zhangmc evidenceofsarscov2transmissionthroughtheocularroute
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