Eye-related symptoms have been documented since the early pandemic, with a 2021 review of 38 studies finding that approximately 11% of Covid patients experienced some form of eye involvement.
Pharmacist Noel Wicks explained that conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, can sometimes appear before other Covid symptoms or even occur on its own.
“The COVID-19 virus can enter the body through our eyes where it may cause symptoms,” he told the Mirror.
“Clinical studies have demonstrated that conjunctivitis (red eye) is present in people who test positive for coronavirus, with rates of conjunctivitis ranging from 2% to over 14%, even if people don’t have any other COVID symptoms. In fact, conjunctivitis can be the first and/or the only symptom of COVID,” Wicks said, citing a recent study where “3,383 people confirmed conjunctivitis as the most common COVID-related eye condition.”
Wicks also warned that “when a droplet containing the virus lands on the surface of the eye, the virus likely travels from the eye surface into the internal cavity of the eye reaching the retina at the back of the eye.”
