Long-term Effects of COVID-19 on the Ocular Surface

A research team from Turkey, led by Dr. Oğuzhan Kılıçarslan (FEBO, FICO), has reported that COVID-19 affects the morphology of corneal endothelial cells in patients with ocular symptoms.

Long-term Effects of COVID-19 on the Ocular Surface

Author: Lynda Charters

A research team from Turkey, led by Dr. Oğuzhan Kılıçarslan (FEBO, FICO), has reported that COVID-19 affects the morphology of corneal endothelial cells in patients with ocular symptoms. Dr. Kılıçarslan is with the Department of Ophthalmology at Ayancık State Hospital, Sinop, Turkey.

In this study, the investigators assessed the long-term effects of the coronavirus on corneal endothelial cell morphology in patients with ocular symptoms, seeking to evaluate potential corneal involvement in those who had recovered from the disease.

The study included two groups:

COVID-19 group: Patients who had been diagnosed and treated at Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and ocular irritation symptoms.
Control group: Age- and sex-matched individuals with no ocular disease.

Researchers used noncontact specular microscopy (center method) 156 days after COVID-19 diagnosis to measure endothelial cell density (ECD), hexagonality (HEX), coefficient of variation, and central corneal thickness.

Microscopy Findings:

A total of 54 patients with COVID-19 and ocular symptoms, and 72 control individuals, were included in the study.

Specular microscopy showed ocular symptoms in COVID-19 patients such as conjunctival hyperemia, foreign body sensation, tearing, ocular discharge, and chemosis.

The mean ECD was 2,770 cells/mm² in the COVID-19 group versus 2,897 cells/mm² in the control group; the mean HEX was 46.52 in the patient group and 58.22 ± 13.94 in the control group.

Patients recovered from COVID-19 had significantly lower ECD and HEX compared to controls (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

Kılıçarslan and colleagues concluded:

“COVID-19 can cause long-term alterations in corneal endothelial cells, leading to decreased ECD and HEX. Future research should focus on the long-term implications of COVID-19 on corneal health and visual outcomes.”

Reference:

Kılıçarslan O, Yılmaz Çebi A, Doğan C, Arslan OS. Long-term corneal endothelial parameters of COVID-19 patients with ocular surface symptoms. Cornea. 2024;43:1124-1127; DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003552

Long-term Effects of COVID-19 on the Ocular Surface

Long-term Effects of COVID-19 on the Ocular Surface

Author: Lynda Charters

A research team from Turkey, led by Dr. Oğuzhan Kılıçarslan (FEBO, FICO), has reported that COVID-19 affects the morphology of corneal endothelial cells in patients with ocular symptoms. Dr. Kılıçarslan is with the Department of Ophthalmology at Ayancık State Hospital, Sinop, Turkey.

In this study, the investigators assessed the long-term effects of the coronavirus on corneal endothelial cell morphology in patients with ocular symptoms, seeking to evaluate potential corneal involvement in those who had recovered from the disease.

The study included two groups:

COVID-19 group: Patients who had been diagnosed and treated at Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and ocular irritation symptoms.

Control group: Age- and sex-matched individuals with no ocular disease.

Researchers used noncontact specular microscopy (center method) 156 days after COVID-19 diagnosis to measure endothelial cell density (ECD), hexagonality (HEX), coefficient of variation, and central corneal thickness.

Microscopy Findings:

A total of 54 patients with COVID-19 and ocular symptoms, and 72 control individuals, were included in the study.

Specular microscopy showed ocular symptoms in COVID-19 patients such as conjunctival hyperemia, foreign body sensation, tearing, ocular discharge, and chemosis.

The mean ECD was 2,770 cells/mm² in the COVID-19 group versus 2,897 cells/mm² in the control group; the mean HEX was 46.52 in the patient group and 58.22 ± 13.94 in the control group.

Patients recovered from COVID-19 had significantly lower ECD and HEX compared to controls (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

Kılıçarslan and colleagues concluded:

“COVID-19 can cause long-term alterations in corneal endothelial cells, leading to decreased ECD and HEX. Future research should focus on the long-term implications of COVID-19 on corneal health and visual outcomes.”

Reference:

Kılıçarslan O, Yılmaz Çebi A, Doğan C, Arslan OS. Long-term corneal endothelial parameters of COVID-19 patients with ocular surface symptoms. Cornea. 2024;43:1124-1127; DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003552