Coronavirus and your eyes: What you need to know
You no doubt have heard about the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, the respiratory disease also known as Coronavirus 2019 or COVID-19, and have concerns about your eye health and that of your family. The doctors at Eye Medical Center of Fresno are paying close attention to the spread of the virus, and would like to offer their patients some information and tips for staying well.
How coronavirus can affect your eyes
The symptoms of COVID-19 include coughing, fever, and shortness of breath. Though much is still being learned about the virus, it is believed to spread primarily through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It could also be spread if you touch an object or surface with virus present from an infected person, and then touch your mouth, nose, or eyes.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, two recent reports suggest the virus can cause conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye. Pink eye is an infection of the transparent membrane (also known as the conjunctiva) that lines your eyelid and covers the white part of your eyeball. It can affect one or both eyes, and symptoms include redness, itchiness, tearing, a gritty feeling in the affected eye, and discharge that forms a crust, making it difficult to open your eye. Although it is as of yet not known for certain, it is possible that SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted by aerosol contact with the conjunctiva, or by touching your eyes after coming into contact with the virus.
Should you wear a face mask to protect yourself?
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) offers these tips for protecting yourself from coronavirus:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a face mask.
- CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
- Face masks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of face masks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
Right now, older people and those with certain underlying health conditions like heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, for example, seem to be at greater risk of serious illness. Make sure that if you are coming into contact with those who are at the most risk, you take care to follow the above tips.
When to see an eye specialist
If you think you have been exposed to coronavirus or have begun exhibiting symptoms (fever, shortness of breath, and coughing), be sure to call your primary physician. If you have standard conjunctivitis symptoms (and do not have a fever), you can make an appointment with an eye specialist at Eye Medical Center of Fresno by calling (559) 486-5000.
I’m on day 6 of covid 19. Body aches and pains have been pretty severe. For the past three days my eyes hurt really bad when I move them to the side or up and down. Symptoms come and go and move around from one part of body to the next. It’s bizarre, and no fun! Wear your masks!
I agree with both of you. I had COVID the first two weeks of April (I live in Europe). Since then, I and several others who’ve had it have had to start using readers or else increase their strength. Someday, I guess, this will be documented
On July 10, 2020 I woke up, showered and was attempting to pluck my eyebrows as well as putting on my eye makeup while looking into a 10X magnifying mirror and I suddenly realized I couldn’t see to do either…..extremely blurry vision. Went to optometrist right away and then my Primary Care Physician and neither of them could find anything wrong. I think I should and will go have the Coronavirus test. Have always worn mask in public since mid-March when asked to do so.
I’ve been feeling like my head gets really warm my vision also has been getting blurry from time to time shortness of breath headaches I honestly dont know if I have it or not cause those symptoms have been coming and going for the past 5 days non of those symptoms are persistent but I do get them here and there
I noticed a small blurry vision. I was diagnosed to have COVID-19 today and I am feeling fadigue and tired, no fever, no short of breath (thank God) I vomited 2 days ago and I am kind of better now. I had a friend from Brasil sending me a list of ingredients to make my body resistance stronger. We need to pray to God to spare us from this desease and to make our bodies stronger taking away soft drinks and industrial foods. Bob bless all of you.
I have experienced blurry vision and deteriorated eyesight with this also. Started week two of covid symptoms…
hi. my eyes hurt if i roll or move them. i have a low fever but still it scares the kyfe out of me.
could it be convid?
I’m considering if I have covid. I’m well apart from my eyes. For the past few weeks I’ve had pain in my right eye..watering in it..pain in my cheekbone, forehead and jaw..all on the right side..my sinus was also blocked and I was given antibiotics via a gp t/c..I’m now on day 3 of these..my eye symptoms are all I’m experiencing but I felt it was going into my left eye..itching..watery and blurry vision on and off..no temp or cough..or any other symptoms..I’m not really thinking the antibiotics are doing much tbh..so I was planning on a trip to my optometrist to get my eyes checked out properly..but now it’s just dawned on me I might have covid😱😱
I had Covid-19 in March along with conjunctivitis. It’s now June and my left eye has developed a conjunctivial cyst. It’s horrible. The white of my eye is yellow. My ophthalmologist said they had no indication that this cyst was related to Covid19, but I beg to differ. He told me to put cold compresses on it. But it still looks horrid.
Yes i had Covid 19 diagnosed May 1st 2020. I swore i must have fought it off for a month. I am 45 year old male have taken insulin for 30 years type 1 diabetes. Non smoker in good shape not overweight with no diabetes complications. Before Covid 19 i could read without magnifying glasses. Now i use readers 1.25. Before Covid 19 i started to squint now i need them for my iphone and ipad! My lungs were fine my first symptons were small fever below 100*, cloudy vision( later in day the worse) and then the EXTREME headaches. When i finally got the test i had slight pressure bottom of rib cage,fever over 100*, partial lost of taste(especially vanilla), drip in my nose when i ate and often i felt like a horse kicked me in the head! I went to my ophthalmolgist and he said eyes were fine! Chest X-ray was good heart is fine. Hopefully lab work that i get back by June 12th is good too.
Has your vision improved or worsened at all.
Both myself and a friend of mine had Covid. Neither of us wore reading glasses before but now its necessary. There is just some stuff, I cannot read anymore and I’m sure this is another side effect or ramification of it.
Awaiting covid results. But my first symptom was painful eyeballs (no color change or discharge) And chills. Nothing else. Then on day 2- malaise, still painful eyeballs ( no color change or discharge) and a ripping pain in my chest whenever i coughed which luckily wasn’t often. The eyeball pain continued. Then minor breathing problems, fatigue and a lot of sweating.
I’m better now- day 6. Still awaiting results. Eye pain has lessened. Chest pain is gone. Fatigue persists. A bit of coughing. This disease is quite sneaky and dangerous..
I had a day when I was really throwing up-in the toilet back in mid April-just for one day.I felt really dizzy for quite a few days afterwards and had strange flashes in the corner of my eyes as I was reading or looking out of the window.I worried that I would not be able to access an optician.Those flashes have now disappeared.
If you never had one before that sounds like you had a classic migraine. I have had migraines for over 20 years and get those symptoms.
When I had COVID-19 it started with pink eyes. Only later did I realise that with some patients it could be part of this disease. My problem is that after 2 months my eyesight especially in one eye deteriorated a lot. However, I also had a bad fall just before getting Covid-19 and hit my head quite badly. The vision problems may thus also be related to that accident.. Does anyone else experience vision loss after Covid?
Hi there,
Both of my parents had COVID 19 and they have both experienced vision loss as a result. My Dad”s is actually pretty severe.
I have had the Coronavirus and been isolated for 3wks now. My vision while I was in the hospital seemed to get worse espically in one eye. I kept cleaning my glasses over n over again but nothing helped. Then I realized it was my eyes… Havent gone to an eye doctor yet,waiting till im well.
This is exactly what I experienced. I tested negative in April, but was presumed positive for Covid as I had all the symptoms and was in bed for 3 weeks. Out of work for 3 months for prolonged fatigue and vision issues. Started about week 2, say early May. Felt my glasses were dirty and I had floaters. Been to the eye specialty hospital twice. They diagnosed posterior vitreous (eye gel) detachment but don’t understand why my eye is blurred (should be just floaters). The blurriness keeps worsening, my vision is deteriorating quickly in the right eye, and I get headaches and sometimes eye aches. Going for a vision check next week but I shouldn’t be due yet for new glasses prescription. Very worried about the deteriorating eye sight.
I had covid-19. I had the most agonizing pain in my eyeballs, ears, skull bones, and my eyes kept producing lots of sand. Any ideas on why??
Brigid, my eyes hurt, if I move them it’s agony. Very grainy and my head hurts..just a bit of a cough. I’m petrified. I have stomach issues too. And cannot sleep.
Wow I’m experiencing the same thing
Me too but only painful eyes not grainy. Low grade fever comes and goes.
My right eye is running, won’t stop
I have the same symptoms.. eyes sore and fever…highest temp 100.9
D I had a off and on low-grade fever will 99.3 what’s the highest and now for the past 3 days my eyes have been kind of blurry I’m just aggravating they don’t hurt but I have the coldest test on Friday so I’ll find out on Tuesday because I have breast reconstruction surgery after cancer and April so I sure hope I don’t have it I need to get the surgery finished my eyes hurt like crap and they’re blurry did you ever find out why yours are like that
I have covid 19 and my vision gets blurry to no existent every time I get up or move to fast. Is this normal? Will it return once I shake this god willing? Or is this a sign it’ll get worse?
I have the same issue. I m scared because my vision is so bad now Im afraid to drive, then the dizziness.
I’m waiting for Covid test results, have a cough slight fever, watery eyes and now I’m experiencing blurry vision I can’t see very well is this normal
What was the outcome after your visit?? I have the same symptoms 🤦♀️🤦♀️
Me too I had a covid test Friday for surgery wensday I hope It’s negative but low fever off and on and blurred vision for 5 days
I am waiting as well for results and I feel weak and see blury
I have covid and noticed a sudden deterioration in my vision. I am fine inside but street signs are blurry. Very odd.
I am recovered, I had it in March and I had this symptom too. I know of one other, there’s three of us!
I have covid 19 and my vision gets blurry to no existent every time I get up or move to fast. Is this normal? Will it return once I shake this god willing? Or is this a sign it’ll get worse?
Watery eyes lately especially when wearing the mask????
My husband thought he had covid late Dec with dry hacking cough and feeling awful beforehand. He has had blurred vision and some double vision since then. Meds maybe but never had that before . they question myasthenia gravis now
Do you still have blurred vision?
I’m assuming that if you have the virus it can effect the white part of the eye ball making it look yellowish and red along with the other systems. The white part of my eyes have been like this for weeks now thankfully I m not showing any other systems like coughing and breathing problems. I am dizzy put the white part of my eyes is what caused me to take a closer look at what this virus is doing if iv been exposed or not.
My daughter’s eyes started watering and itching anf started to mat shut do I need to be worried. I am a diabetic
I’m a seventy-one year old woman. Over 2 weeks ago, I noticed that the white part of one of my eyes was pink and there was some discharge. I got in to see my optometrist who gave me drops that were anti-bacterial. As the pinkness subsided in one eye, it then moved to the other. I’ve been in complete isolation for the whole time I had this pink eye and it has pretty well disappeared.
I did not have any other symptoms of the Corona virus- no fever or cough. Today, I watched an interview on CNN where the nurses at the senior home in Washington state said this ‘red eye’ was a symptom they noticed in many of the patients who suffered from this virus.
I’d never heard that this eye condition might be, in some way, connected to the Corona virus.
What do you think?
sandy i m also red eye.. one i infected..i am scared..
Just Saw the nurses from Washington state nursing home. They said most patients had red eyes but not the normal red eye. Said it was almost like red eye shadow
My eyes are red and watery and sometimes it feels like I have sand in them
Is it ok to use an eye wash daily to clean and refresh eyes….Advanced Eye Relief – Bausch+Lomb
I woke up today with a bright red streak in my left eye, after having a bad cough and wheezing but no fever for several weeks. I haven’t been tested for coronavirus, but I’m wondering what the dangers are to my eye and my vision if left untreated.
my left eye is red not to much nd today i also start counting
My son coughed in my eye about 10-14days ago, it burned like acid i had to give eye water bath. I then got sick. I have been much worse than rest of family. My eyes have stung watered and been sensitive to light for whole virus so far. Im on day 6
Hang in there…. ❤🙏❤
I accompanied someone to a medical appointment and kept hearing “red-eye” asked as a symptom (of him and several subsequent patients checking in.) Now I realize they meant what I’ve always heard called “Pinkeye” = Conjunctivitis.
The eye connection makes no sense. How can a virus get into the lungs from the eyes??
My daughter had a bad case of conjunctivitis along with what we thought was the flu. This was a month ago, her doctor never tested her for the flu and I’m convinced now it was Covid-19.
It is an opening to the body just like the mouth and nose. The virus could be on hands and then you touch any of those three areas.
its connected to the respiratory system, when you cry you nose waters… eyes nose and mouth are gateways for the virus
The same way it does if it enters your nose or your mouth.
Thank you for clear information.
My vision has become blurry and it is not as sharp as it once was ! About 3. Weeks now !