General ophthalmological aspects of the COVID-19 infection

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has gone down in history as an international emergency that resulted in the death of millions of people. The coronavirus infection poses a large number of problems for medical science and, in particular, ophthalmology, which for the most part do not have obvious solutions. Due to insufficient knowledge about coronavirus infection in ophthalmology, there is a lack of understanding of eye symptoms, methods of prevention, treatment and organization of healthcare for such patients during a pandemic. Based on the available studies researching these issues, it is assumed that the virus may directly affect the ocular surface tissues (conjunctiva, cornea). Also, the possibility of transmission of infection through the ocular surface has not been ruled out. The data indicate the need to expand the measures for prevention of the spread of coronavirus infection, including through the surface of the eye.