Ocular immunology and inflammation
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After the outbreak of the disease COVID-19, it has reached pandemic proportions within a very short time. It is mainly transmitted human-to-human through direct contact with secretions from an infected person or through inhalation of droplets containing SARS-CoV-2. It is controversial whether the virus may be transmitted via tears. ⋯ Considering the reported cases on healthcare workers indicating nosocomial transmission and the anatomical and physiological aspects it is perceived that ophthalmic healthcare professionals are at higher risk of contracting the virus by virtue of their job. In this narrative review we discuss current evidence around detection of SARS-CoV-2 in human tears and forms of transmissions reported to date. We also provide a comprehensive approach that may be implemented in an ophthalmic care facility to protect healthcare personnel, as well as patients, from contracting the virus.
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Ocul. Immunol. Inflamm. · Jul 2020
Evaluation of Conjunctival Swab PCR Results in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection.
The study objective was to identify severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in conjunctival swabs from patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. ⋯ The rate of positivity from conjunctival swab rRT-PCR was 7.5% in patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Ocul. Immunol. Inflamm. · Jul 2020
EditorialEvolving Consensus Experience of the IUSG-IOIS-FOIS with Uveitis in the Time of COVID-19 Infection.
This document summarizes the experience of the International Uveitis Study Group (IUSG), the Intraocular Inflammation Society (IOIS), and the Foster Ocular Inflammation Society (FOIS) and can aid as a guide for the treatment of uveitis patients in the era of COVID-19 pandemic.
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The spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 interact with ACE2 or basigin/CD147 receptors, regulating human-to-human transmissions of COVID-19 together with serine protease TMPRSS2. The expression of these receptors on the ocular surface is unknown. ⋯ The ocular surface may represent an entry point for the SARS-CoV-2 in the human body. The conjunctiva and the cornea can adopt antiviral countermeasures which may explain the low prevalence of eye involvement.
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Ocul. Immunol. Inflamm. · Jan 2018
Assessment of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients with Dry Eye Disease.
To evaluate the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) levels in patients with dry eye disease (DED). ⋯ The NLR and PLR values were found higher in patients with dry eye than in healthy subjects.