Ocular Manifestations of Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Hospital-Based Prospective Study at a Coronavirus Disease Dedicated Tertiary Center.

Purpose: To investigate ophthalmic manifestations in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients admitted to a designated COVID-19 center in Northern India during the period from April 13, 2020, to April 13, 2022. This aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of ocular involvement in the context of the pandemic.

Methods: This is a hospital-based prospective observational study. All COVID-19-positive (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction positive - via pharyngeal and nasal swabs) patients, who were admitted to our hospital, were included in the study. Upon receiving ophthalmology referrals, patients were seen in the COVID-19 ward, with data collected on demographic distribution, presenting ocular symptoms, and specific ocular findings.

Results: Out of 3278 patients admitted to our center, 287 developed ocular symptoms. The study revealed a mean age of 63.8 ± 13.9 years, with males constituting 61.3% of the cases. The mean logMAR best-corrected visual acuity was found to be 0.30 ± 0.60. The mean duration between COVID-19 diagnosis and development of the first ophthalmic symptom was 10.4 ± 9.8 days. The predominant ocular symptoms included redness, discharge, and watering. Anterior segment manifestations were predominant, with conjunctivitis being the most prevalent ocular pathology (74.21%), followed by episcleritis (9.41%) and subconjunctival hemorrhage (7.31%). Conjunctivitis presented bilaterally in 41.5% of these patients, emphasizing its significance in the spectrum of COVID-19 ocular manifestations.

Conclusions: This research contributes substantial evidence regarding ophthalmic manifestations in COVID-19 patients. Ophthalmologists should remain vigilant, considering the potential for ocular symptoms to precede respiratory manifestations. The study emphasizes the need for comprehensive patient assessments and preventive measures in ophthalmic practices.