Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Through the Ocular Route

Figures & data

Table 1 Clinical Studies of SARS-CoV-2 Detected on Ocular Surface

No.	Reference Detail	Patients, n	With Ocular Symptoms	Positive in Conjunctival Secretions or Tears		Total Ocular Positive Rate	Conjunctival Secretions or Tears Sampling Time
				With Ocular Symptoms	Without Ocular Symptoms
1	Arora et al^Citation74	78	0(0.00%)	0	18(23.08%)	23.08%	Within 48 hours after laboratory confirmation of COVID-19
2	Atum et al^Citation75	40	10(25.00%)	1(10.00%)	2(6.67%)	7.50%	Within 3 days after admission
3	Deng et al^Citation76	90	NA	0	0	0.00%	NA
4	Güemes-Villahoz et al^Citation77	36^a	18	1(5.56%)	1(5.56%)	5.56%	Within 24 hours after suspected conjunctivitis
5	Karimi et al^Citation78	43	2(4.65%)	1(50.00%)	2(4.88%)	6.98%	On the first day of hospitalization
6	Kaya et al^Citation79	32	0(0.00%)	0	5(15.60%)	15.60%	6.84 ± 6.81 days (1–35 days) after onset
7	Kumar et al^Citation80	45	0(0.00%)	0	1(2.22%)	2.22%	Within 2–5 days after onset of 32/45 patients, and NA of 13/45 patients
8	Li et al^Citation81	92	5(5.43%)	1(20.00%)	4(4.60%)	5.43%	NA
9	Li et al^Citation82	49^b	0	0	4(8.16%)	8.16%	Within 2–27 days of onset or first positive nasopharyngeal specimen
10	Liang et al^Citation83	37	3(8.10%)	0(0.00%)	1(2.94%)	2.70%	NA
11	Mahmoud et al^Citation84	28	10(35.71%)	3(30.00%)	5(27.78%)	28.57%	3 days after admission
12	Valente et al^Citation67	27	4(14.81%)	1(25.00%)	2(8.70%)	11.11%	On the day of admission and repeated every 2–3 days before discharge
13	Wu et al^Citation85	38	12(31.58%)	2(16.67%)	0(0.00%)	5.26%	NA
14	Xia et al^Citation86	30	1(3.33%)	1(100.00%)	0(0.00%)	2.78%	7.33±3.82 days (1–16 days) after onset
15	Xie et al^Citation87	33^b	0	0	2(6.06%)	6.06%	Within 7 days after the diagnosis of COVID-19
16	Zhang et al^Citation36	72	2(2.78%)	1(50.00%)	0(0.00%)	1.39%	18.15±7.57 days (6–46 days) after onset
17	Zhou et al^Citation88	121	8(6.61%)	1(12.50%)	2(1.77%)	2.48%	Samples from all patients were collected on the same day
18	Dutescu et al^Citation89	18	5(27.78%)	5^c		27.78%	NA
19	Fang et al^Citation90	32	NA	5^c		15.63%	NA
20	Huang et al^Citation91	15	NA	1^c		6.67%	Within 1 week of admission to ICU

Notes: ^aA half of COVID-19 patients with ocular symptoms and a half of without ocular symptoms were included. ^bCOVID-19 patients without any ocular manifestation were included. ^cDoes not describe whether patients with positive conjunctival swabs or tears have eye symptoms.

Abbreviations: NA, not available; ICU, intensive care unit.

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