The researchers cited evidence suggesting that the COVID-19 virus could sneak into the body via the cornea, the clear half-dome covering the front-center portion of the eyeball. There’s a lot we don’t know about the risk of viruses, including the novel coronavirus, getting into the body through the eyes. Does this suggest sore eyes are not a big deal when it comes to COVID-19? Of course, more than four out of five COVID-positive people in this survey did not report eye issues. That finding was less significant, the scientists said. The other eye symptoms happened at about the same rate before and after the people tested positive. Almost none had sore eyes before getting infected - so a jump to 16% after infection looked noteworthy. The survey asked each participant which symptoms they had before they caught COVID. The scientists said sore eyes represented the most significant finding - even though it was a bit less common than itchy eyes or light sensitivity. Among the survey respondents:Įye-related symptoms were far less common among survey participants: The journal reported on a survey of 83 people who tested positive for COVID-19. Most people with COVID-19 don’t report sore eyes or any other ocular issues, according to the journal BMJ Open Ophthalmology. READ MORE: Are red eyes from coronavirus or allergies? What are the links between sore eyes and COVID-19? Bacteria can also cause conjunctivitis, so your doctor will want to assess that possibility. Talk to your eye doctor about treating the symptoms so they don’t disrupt your life. However, if you have pink eye issues without COVID symptoms, then allergies are the more likely culprit.ĭon’t ignore a case of allergic pink eye, however. The article concludes that if you have pink eye and COVID symptoms like fever, shortness of breath, lack of taste and other issues on the CDC’s list, then you should get tested for the virus ASAP. “Allergy sufferers do not have fever as a symptom, while coronavirus patients often do.” Huffman, MD, an ophthalmologist interviewed in the article. “Another key difference between seasonal allergy symptoms and coronavirus symptoms is having a fever,” said James M. Itchy and watery eyes are less likely with viral conjunctivitis. It also causes a watery discharge that’s thicker than tears. Viral conjunctivitis can happen at any time of the year. Allergic pink eye usually happens at certain times of the year, such as during peak allergy season. Allergic conjunctivitis can make your eyes itchy, watery and bloodshot. They discuss two main varieties of conjunctivitis:Īllergic, caused by allergies. The experts at the American Academy of Ophthalmology took a swing at this question in an article posted in January 2021. SEE RELATED: Coronavirus linked to pink eye: How to protect your eyes Am I dealing with allergies or COVID-19? Thus, there are lots of questions about the ocular issues of COVID-19. As of this writing (February 2021), researchers have documented symptoms similar to those of conjunctivitis (the scientific name for pink eye) in some COVID-19 patients. Of course, our knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 (a new strain of the coronavirus), which causes COVID-19, is changing every day. Moreover, a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology in August 2020 reported that young children infected with COVID-19 were rubbing their eyes, developing pink eye and showing other eye-related symptoms. The researchers called eye soreness “the most significant” eye-related symptom among the research study subjects. Research published in December 2020 in the journal BMJ Ophthalmology suggested less than one-fifth of COVID-positive people had eye-related symptoms. Well, the CDC notes that this is not the full list of COVID-19 symptoms - it’s just a list of what COVID patients experience most often. Nothing about sore eyes in there, so what’s up? Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says these are the most common COVID-19 symptoms: Then again, your sore eyes might just be a symptom of allergies. Still, scientists suggest sore eyes could be an important COVID-19 symptom. We don’t hear much about COVID-related sore eyes because they’re pretty rare. People often get a dry cough and run a fever. Getting tested is the only way to know for sure.ĬOVID-19 usually attacks the lungs. It’s unlikely, though you can’t rule it out. If you woke up with sore eyes this morning, should you be worried you have COVID-19?
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