The Ocular Surface and the Coronavirus Disease 2019: Does a Dual ‘Ocular Route’ Exist?
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an important health problem that was defined as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020. Although great concern has been expressed about COVID-19 infection acquired through ocular transmission, its underlying mechanism has not currently bee...
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doaj-2b6e989bd90c4467b183bc9198e0a8ee2020-11-25T03:04:27ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832020-04-0191269126910.3390/jcm9051269The Ocular Surface and the Coronavirus Disease 2019: Does a Dual ‘Ocular Route’ Exist?Pietro Emanuele Napoli0Matteo Nioi1Ernesto d’Aloja2Maurizio Fossarello3Department of Surgical Science, University of Cagliari, Eye Clinic, via Ospedale 46, 09124 Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Forensic Medicine Unit, 09124 Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Forensic Medicine Unit, 09124 Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Surgical Science, University of Cagliari, Eye Clinic, via Ospedale 46, 09124 Cagliari, ItalyCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an important health problem that was defined as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020. Although great concern has been expressed about COVID-19 infection acquired through ocular transmission, its underlying mechanism has not currently been clarified. In the current work, we analyzed and elucidated the two main elements that should be taken into account to understand the “ocular route”, both from a clinical and molecular point of view. They are represented by the dynamism of the ocular surface system (e.g., the tear film turnover) and the distribution of ACE2 receptors and TMPRSS2 protein. Although it seems, at the moment, that there is a low risk of coronavirus spreading through tears, it may survive for a long time or replicate in the conjunctiva, even in absence of conjunctivitis signs, indicating that eye protection (e.g., protective goggles alone or in association with face shield) is advisable to prevent contamination from external droplets and aerosol.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/5/1269COVID-19coronavirusSARS-CoV-2ACE-2 receptoreyeconjunctivitis |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Pietro Emanuele Napoli Matteo Nioi Ernesto d’Aloja Maurizio Fossarello |
spellingShingle |
Pietro Emanuele Napoli Matteo Nioi Ernesto d’Aloja Maurizio Fossarello The Ocular Surface and the Coronavirus Disease 2019: Does a Dual ‘Ocular Route’ Exist? Journal of Clinical Medicine COVID-19 coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 ACE-2 receptor eye conjunctivitis |
author_facet |
Pietro Emanuele Napoli Matteo Nioi Ernesto d’Aloja Maurizio Fossarello |
author_sort |
Pietro Emanuele Napoli |
title |
The Ocular Surface and the Coronavirus Disease 2019: Does a Dual ‘Ocular Route’ Exist? |
title_short |
The Ocular Surface and the Coronavirus Disease 2019: Does a Dual ‘Ocular Route’ Exist? |
title_full |
The Ocular Surface and the Coronavirus Disease 2019: Does a Dual ‘Ocular Route’ Exist? |
title_fullStr |
The Ocular Surface and the Coronavirus Disease 2019: Does a Dual ‘Ocular Route’ Exist? |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Ocular Surface and the Coronavirus Disease 2019: Does a Dual ‘Ocular Route’ Exist? |
title_sort |
ocular surface and the coronavirus disease 2019: does a dual ‘ocular route’ exist? |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Journal of Clinical Medicine |
issn |
2077-0383 |
publishDate |
2020-04-01 |
description |
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an important health problem that was defined as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020. Although great concern has been expressed about COVID-19 infection acquired through ocular transmission, its underlying mechanism has not currently been clarified. In the current work, we analyzed and elucidated the two main elements that should be taken into account to understand the “ocular route”, both from a clinical and molecular point of view. They are represented by the dynamism of the ocular surface system (e.g., the tear film turnover) and the distribution of ACE2 receptors and TMPRSS2 protein. Although it seems, at the moment, that there is a low risk of coronavirus spreading through tears, it may survive for a long time or replicate in the conjunctiva, even in absence of conjunctivitis signs, indicating that eye protection (e.g., protective goggles alone or in association with face shield) is advisable to prevent contamination from external droplets and aerosol. |
topic |
COVID-19 coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 ACE-2 receptor eye conjunctivitis |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/5/1269 |
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