Ocular manifestations in COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION: With the accumulating evidence of ocular manifestations of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the study aimed to systematically summarize the ocular manifestations in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: The PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science databases were searched through June 2021. Studies that provided clinical characteristics and outcomes and reported on the ocular manifestations or conjunctival swab RT-PCR tests among COVID-19 patients were included. RESULTS: A total of 30 studies involving 5,717 patients were identified. Ocular manifestations including conjunctival hyperemia (7.6%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8–8.9%), conjunctival discharge (4.8%, 95% CI 1.8–8.9%), epiphora (6.9%, 95% CI 2.8–12.8%), and foreign body sensation (6.9%, 95% CI 2.4–13.0%) were observed. The positive rate of conjunctival swab tests was 3.9% (95% CI 0.2–6.4%). Severe cases of COVID-19 were associated with an increased risk of developing ocular complications (odds ratio [OR] = 2.77, 95% CI 1.75–4.40). CONCLUSIONS: Despite their relatively low incidence rate in COVID-19 patients, ocular manifestations may be non-specific and present as the initial symptoms of infection. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the conjunctival swabs implicates the eye as a potential source of infection. Early diagnosis and proper eye protection would help prevent viral transmission.