TY - JOUR
T1 - SARS-CoV-2 on the ocular surface
T2 - is it truly a novel transmission route?
AU - Chen, Xuhui
AU - Yu, Huimin
AU - Mei, Ting
AU - Chen, Bo
AU - Chen, Liwen
AU - Li, Shanling
AU - Zhang, Xian
AU - Sun, Xufang
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
PY - 2021/9/1
Y1 - 2021/9/1
N2 - Since December 2019, the novel COVID-19 outbreak has spread rapidly around the globe and infected millions of people. Although the major transmission route of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is considered to be airborne droplets and close contact, the ocular transmission route has been reported with great concern. The current work summarises the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2, the ocular distribution of the major SARS-CoV-2 binding protein, and the experimental and clinical evidence of the ocular transmission route. Although it seems that the likelihood of the ocular surface being an infection gateway is low, SARS-CoV-2 infection or transmission via the ocular surface may cause conjunctivitis and other ocular discomfort. Therefore, good eye protection is an essential safeguard procedure, especially for medical staff.
AB - Since December 2019, the novel COVID-19 outbreak has spread rapidly around the globe and infected millions of people. Although the major transmission route of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is considered to be airborne droplets and close contact, the ocular transmission route has been reported with great concern. The current work summarises the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2, the ocular distribution of the major SARS-CoV-2 binding protein, and the experimental and clinical evidence of the ocular transmission route. Although it seems that the likelihood of the ocular surface being an infection gateway is low, SARS-CoV-2 infection or transmission via the ocular surface may cause conjunctivitis and other ocular discomfort. Therefore, good eye protection is an essential safeguard procedure, especially for medical staff.
KW - Conjunctiva
KW - Microbiology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85114846381&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85114846381&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2020-316263
DO - 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2020-316263
M3 - Review article
C2 - 32788324
AN - SCOPUS:85114846381
SN - 0007-1161
VL - 105
SP - 1190
EP - 1195
JO - British Journal of Ophthalmology
JF - British Journal of Ophthalmology
IS - 9
ER -