Coronavirus and Your Eyes
Click here to download a copy of the entire article provided by the American Academy of Ophthalmology
How can coronavirus affect your eyes?
The first thing to understand is that coronavirus can spread through the eyes — just as it does
through the mouth or nose. When someone who has coronavirus coughs, sneezes, or talks, virus particles can spray from their mouth or nose onto your face. You are likely to breathe these tiny droplets in through your mouth or nose. But the droplets can also enter your body through your eyes. You can also become infected by touching your eyes after touching something that has the virus on it. It might be possible for coronavirus to cause a pink eye infection (conjunctivitis), but this is extremely rare. If you have pink eye, don’t panic. Simply call your ophthalmologist to let them know and follow their instructions for care. Keep in mind that whether pink eye is caused by a virus or bacteria, it can spread if someone touches that sticky or runny discharge from the eyes, or touches objects contaminated by the discharge.
Eye care during the COVID-19 outbreak
For everyone’s health and safety, ophthalmologists and other doctors are being urged not to see patients during the coronavirus pandemic except for urgent or emergency care. This is important for two reasons:
- Limiting contact between doctors and patients is key to helping reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
- The entire nation must conserve vital disposable medical supplies (like masks and face shields) so they can be used in hospitals where they are most needed right now.
Contact Premier Medical for guidance in the following situations:
- You have macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy and get regular eye injections
- You notice changes in your vision (like blurry, wavy or blank spots in your field of vision)
- You notice a lot of new floaters or flashes in your vision
- You suddenly lose some vision
- You have eye pain, headache, red eye, nausea and vomiting
