Changes in immune and coagulation systems and possible viral spread through the blood–brain barrier have been described in SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study, we evaluated the possible retinal involvement and ocular findings in severe COVID-19 pneumonia patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 46 patients affected by severe COVID-19 who were hospitalized in one intensive care unit (ICU) and in two infectious disease wards, including bedside eye screening, corneal sensitivity assessment and retinography. A total of 43 SARS-CoV-2-positive pneumonia patients affected with COVID-19 pneumonia were included, including 25 males and 18 females, with a median age of 70 years [IQR 59–78]. Except for one patient with unilateral posterior chorioretinitis of opportunistic origin, of whom aqueous tap was negative for SARS-CoV-2, no further retinal manifestation related to COVID-19 infection was found in our cohort. We found 3 patients (7%) with bilateral conjunctivitis in whom PCR analysis on conjunctival swabs provided negative results for SARS-CoV-2. No alterations in corneal sensitivity were found. We demonstrated the absence of retinal involvement in SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia patients. Ophthalmologic evaluation in COVID-19, particularly in patients hospitalized in an ICU setting, may be useful to reveal systemic co-infections by opportunistic pathogens.
【저자키워드】 viral infection, Eye manifestations, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Severe COVID-19 pneumonia, Hospitalized, intensive care, severe COVID-19, Pneumonia, cross-sectional, SARS-COV-2 infection, Infectious disease, viral spread, immune, ICU, Cohort, COVID-19 infection, male, Patient, Co-infection, Conjunctival swab, Pathogens, Coagulation system, SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, change, patients, corneal sensitivity, alteration, median age, PCR analysis, ocular, females, described, affected, evaluated, conducted, provided, absence, demonstrated, tap, chorioretinitis, patients hospitalized, with COVID-19, 【제목키워드】 ocular, COVID-19 pneumonia patient, Retinal,