Medical experts from Jilin University in China urge healthcare professionals not to ignore the coronavirus’ (2019-nCoV) potential to transmit through the ocular surface.
In an article published by The Lancet, experts said a Chinese health professional had become infected after visiting the Wuhan Fever Clinic wearing an N95 mask but no eye protection, possibly as a result of infectious droplets and body fluids contaminating the conjunctival epithelium.
Anecdotal reports suggesting 2019-nCoV can cause conjunctivitis and possibly be transmitted by aerosol contact with the conjunctiva, have led The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) to recommend its members caring for at-risk patients wear mouth, nose and eye protection. “Patients who present for conjunctivitis who also have respiratory symptoms, have recently travelled internationally, certainly those recently in China or with family members recently back from China, could represent cases of 2019-nCoV,” said AAO.
Also, The Lancet has created an open access Coronavirus resource centre for healthcare professionals making new research available from across all The Lancet journals as it is published. www.thelancet.com/coronavirus
