Detection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in the Human Eye

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To determine the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in postmortem ocular specimens of patients with severe COVID-19 disease.

Patients and methods

Postmortem conjunctival (28 samples), aqueous humor (30 samples) and vitreous humor (30 samples) specimens were obtained bilaterally from the eyes of 15 deceased COVID-19 patients within one hour of death. The presence of viral RNA was evaluated in samples using Real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results

Positive RT-PCR SARS-COV-2 results were found in one conjunctival and 2 vitreous humor samples. All aqueous humor samples tested negative for the presence of SARS-COV-2 RNA. Of note, three positive samples were obtained from three different patients. The overall prevalence of positive RT-PCR ocular samples was 3.4% among all samples and 20% at the patient level.

Conclusion

SARS-CoV-2 RNA is detectable in postmortem conjunctival and vitreous humor samples of patients with severe COVID-19.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• RT-PCR
• SARS-CoV-2
• autopsy
• conjunctiva
• aqueous humor
• vitreous humor

Role of the funder/sponsor

The funding sources had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Disclosure statement

Dr Weinreb reported nonfinancial support (research instruments) from Carl Zeiss Meditec, Heidelberg Engineering, Konan, Optovue, and Topcon; grants from the National Eye Institute and Bausch&Lomb; an Unrestricted Grant from Research to Prevent Blindness; personal fees from Allergan and Nicox; all outside the submitted work. No other disclosures were reported.

Author contributions

Dr Robert N. Weinreb had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Dr Alireza Kamalipour and Dr Mohammad Ali Ashraf contributed equally as co-first authors.

Concept and design: Kamalipour, M.A. Ashraf, Moghimi, Moattari, M.J. Ashraf, Weinreb.

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: Kamalipour, M.A. Ashraf, Abbasi, Azodi, Oboudi, Roshanshad.

Drafting of the manuscript: Kamalipour, M.A. Ashraf, Pirbonyeh.

Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: All authors.

intellectual content: Kamalipour, M.A. Ashraf, Moghimi, Moattari, M.J. Ashraf, Abbasi, Mokhtaryan, Do, Weinreb.

Statistical analysis: Kamalipour, Moghimi.

Administrative, technical, or material support: M.A. Ashraf, Moattari, M.J. Ashraf, Abbasi, Azodi, Oboudi.

Supervision: Moghimi, Moattari, M.J. Ashraf, Abbasi, Weinreb.

Additional information

Funding

This study was partly supported by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.