Investigation of the relationship between eye involvement and systemic diseases in patients with COVID-19

Investigation of whether there is a relationship between eye involvement and systemic diseases in patients diagnosed with Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19). Onehundred and tenpatients who admitted to our hospital and were diagnosed with COVID-19 by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and chest computed tomography (CT)were included in the study. The demographic characteristics and existing systemic diseases of the patients were questioned. Whether the patients had ocular involvementassociated with COVID-19 was investigated. The patients with eye involvement were examined in terms of systemic diseases and the drugs they used. Sixty oneof thepatients were male and 49 were female. Eight (7.3%) of the 110 patients had ocular involvement. Six of these 8 patients had no comorbid diseases. Two patients withadditional systemic disease had a common diagnosis of chronic kidney disease. The mean age of those with ocular involvement (44.88 ± 21.97 years) was lower than theaverage age of the total group (52.29 ± 22.93 years). The most common additional systemic disease in patients with COVID-19 was hypertension (26.4%).All patients hadconjunctival hyperemia. Five of the patients had epiphora, 5 had secretion, 4 had burning-stinging and 2 had ocular pain.3 of the patients were smokers.In 2 patients, thefirst finding of COVID-19 started with eye complaints.One of the patients with ocular involvement had a history of previous Fuchs uveitis. Although eye involvement inCOVID-19 patients is not common, it may appear as the first finding. Detection of patients with eye involvement may be beneficial in terms of early diagnosis, treatmentand prevent transmission. In addition, the relationship between comorbid diseases and eye involvement may be important in terms of prognosis.