Can pink eye be a symptom of COVID-19?
Can pink eye be a symptom of COVID-19?
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Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye because it can cause the white of the eye to appear red or pink, is an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva (a transparent membrane that lines the eyelid and covers the white part of the eye). Conjunctivitis can have different causes, including bacterial infections and viral infections (including adenoviruses, which cause the common cold, and the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19). The appearance of reddish eyes can also be due to allergies, dryness, fatigue, or other factors and does not necessarily mean a person has conjunctivitis. Some research studies have identified conjunctivitis as a possible symptom of COVID-19, including a study of 38 patients with COVID-19 in China, which found that 12 of the patients had ocular or eye-related symptoms such as conjunctivitis. Patients with more severe COVID-19 were more likely to have ocular symptoms, and 1 patient in the study presented with conjunctivitis as their first symptom. In Canada, a case study was published on a female patient with COVID-19 who had severe conjunctivitis and minimal respiratory symptoms. In the U.K., another case study of a male patient with COVID-19 found that conjunctivitis was a symptom in the middle phase of COVID-19 illness. A review of ocular symptoms in COVID-19 patients that was published in August 2020 found no reports of COVID-19 becoming sight-threatening. The American Academy of Ophthalmology has stated that conjunctivitis can be an infrequent symptom of COVID-19, estimated to occur in 1% to 3% of patients who test positive for COVID-19. A meta-analysis of 1167 patients in 3 studies found that the overall rate of conjunctivitis was 1.1%, with the rate being 3% in patients with severe COVID-19 and 0.7% in patients with non-severe COVID‐19. Conjunctivitis may be more common as a COVID-19 symptom in children. A study of 216 children with COVID-19 in China found that 22.7% showed an ocular symptom, including conjunctivitis. Since conjunctivitis is not among the most common COVID-19 symptoms and can have underlying causes that are unrelated to COVID-19, many public health and medical experts are advising that adults and children with suspected conjunctivitis seek care for their eyes. If someone with conjunctivitis has been at risk of exposure to COVID-19, a healthcare provider can help with determining whether a person with conjunctivitis should also get tested for COVID-19.
Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye because it can cause the white of the eye to appear red or pink, is an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva (a transparent membrane that lines the eyelid and covers the white part of the eye). Conjunctivitis can have different causes, including bacterial infections and viral infections (including adenoviruses, which cause the common cold, and the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19). The appearance of reddish eyes can also be due to allergies, dryness, fatigue, or other factors and does not necessarily mean a person has conjunctivitis. Some research studies have identified conjunctivitis as a possible symptom of COVID-19, including a study of 38 patients with COVID-19 in China, which found that 12 of the patients had ocular or eye-related symptoms such as conjunctivitis. Patients with more severe COVID-19 were more likely to have ocular symptoms, and 1 patient in the study presented with conjunctivitis as their first symptom. In Canada, a case study was published on a female patient with COVID-19 who had severe conjunctivitis and minimal respiratory symptoms. In the U.K., another case study of a male patient with COVID-19 found that conjunctivitis was a symptom in the middle phase of COVID-19 illness. A review of ocular symptoms in COVID-19 patients that was published in August 2020 found no reports of COVID-19 becoming sight-threatening. The American Academy of Ophthalmology has stated that conjunctivitis can be an infrequent symptom of COVID-19, estimated to occur in 1% to 3% of patients who test positive for COVID-19. A meta-analysis of 1167 patients in 3 studies found that the overall rate of conjunctivitis was 1.1%, with the rate being 3% in patients with severe COVID-19 and 0.7% in patients with non-severe COVID‐19. Conjunctivitis may be more common as a COVID-19 symptom in children. A study of 216 children with COVID-19 in China found that 22.7% showed an ocular symptom, including conjunctivitis. Since conjunctivitis is not among the most common COVID-19 symptoms and can have underlying causes that are unrelated to COVID-19, many public health and medical experts are advising that adults and children with suspected conjunctivitis seek care for their eyes. If someone with conjunctivitis has been at risk of exposure to COVID-19, a healthcare provider can help with determining whether a person with conjunctivitis should also get tested for COVID-19.
Publication
What our experts say
Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye because it can cause the white of the eye to appear red or pink, is an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva (a transparent membrane that lines the eyelid and covers the white part of the eye). Conjunctivitis can have different causes, including bacterial infections and viral infections (including adenoviruses, which cause the common cold, and the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19). The appearance of reddish eyes can also be due to allergies, dryness, fatigue, or other factors and does not necessarily mean a person has conjunctivitis.
Some research studies have identified conjunctivitis as a possible symptom of COVID-19, including a study of 38 patients with COVID-19 in China, which found that 12 of the patients had ocular or eye-related symptoms such as conjunctivitis. Patients with more severe COVID-19 were more likely to have ocular symptoms, and 1 patient in the study presented with conjunctivitis as their first symptom. In Canada, a case study was published on a female patient with COVID-19 who had severe conjunctivitis and minimal respiratory symptoms. In the U.K., another case study of a male patient with COVID-19 found that conjunctivitis was a symptom in the middle phase of COVID-19 illness. A review of ocular symptoms in COVID-19 patients that was published in August 2020 found no reports of COVID-19 becoming sight-threatening.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology has stated that conjunctivitis can be an infrequent symptom of COVID-19, estimated to occur in 1% to 3% of patients who test positive for COVID-19. A meta-analysis of 1167 patients in 3 studies found that the overall rate of conjunctivitis was 1.1%, with the rate being 3% in patients with severe COVID-19 and 0.7% in patients with non-severe COVID‐19. Conjunctivitis may be more common as a COVID-19 symptom in children. A study of 216 children with COVID-19 in China found that 22.7% showed an ocular symptom, including conjunctivitis.
Since conjunctivitis is not among the most common COVID-19 symptoms and can have underlying causes that are unrelated to COVID-19, many public health and medical experts are advising that adults and children with suspected conjunctivitis seek care for their eyes. If someone with conjunctivitis has been at risk of exposure to COVID-19, a healthcare provider can help with determining whether a person with conjunctivitis should also get tested for COVID-19.
Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye because it can cause the white of the eye to appear red or pink, is an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva (a transparent membrane that lines the eyelid and covers the white part of the eye). Conjunctivitis can have different causes, including bacterial infections and viral infections (including adenoviruses, which cause the common cold, and the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19). The appearance of reddish eyes can also be due to allergies, dryness, fatigue, or other factors and does not necessarily mean a person has conjunctivitis.
Some research studies have identified conjunctivitis as a possible symptom of COVID-19, including a study of 38 patients with COVID-19 in China, which found that 12 of the patients had ocular or eye-related symptoms such as conjunctivitis. Patients with more severe COVID-19 were more likely to have ocular symptoms, and 1 patient in the study presented with conjunctivitis as their first symptom. In Canada, a case study was published on a female patient with COVID-19 who had severe conjunctivitis and minimal respiratory symptoms. In the U.K., another case study of a male patient with COVID-19 found that conjunctivitis was a symptom in the middle phase of COVID-19 illness. A review of ocular symptoms in COVID-19 patients that was published in August 2020 found no reports of COVID-19 becoming sight-threatening.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology has stated that conjunctivitis can be an infrequent symptom of COVID-19, estimated to occur in 1% to 3% of patients who test positive for COVID-19. A meta-analysis of 1167 patients in 3 studies found that the overall rate of conjunctivitis was 1.1%, with the rate being 3% in patients with severe COVID-19 and 0.7% in patients with non-severe COVID‐19. Conjunctivitis may be more common as a COVID-19 symptom in children. A study of 216 children with COVID-19 in China found that 22.7% showed an ocular symptom, including conjunctivitis.
Since conjunctivitis is not among the most common COVID-19 symptoms and can have underlying causes that are unrelated to COVID-19, many public health and medical experts are advising that adults and children with suspected conjunctivitis seek care for their eyes. If someone with conjunctivitis has been at risk of exposure to COVID-19, a healthcare provider can help with determining whether a person with conjunctivitis should also get tested for COVID-19.
Context and background
During the U.S. vice presidential debate on October 7, 2020, many people thought that Vice President Pence may have had conjuctivitis (pink eye) and asked if this is a symptom of COVID-19. People were concerned in part because President Trump announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 the week before the vice presidential debate. A White House spokesperson said that both Vice President Pence and Second Lady Pence tested negative for COVID-19 and were taking additional precautions leading up to the vice presidential debate.
During the U.S. vice presidential debate on October 7, 2020, many people thought that Vice President Pence may have had conjuctivitis (pink eye) and asked if this is a symptom of COVID-19. People were concerned in part because President Trump announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 the week before the vice presidential debate. A White House spokesperson said that both Vice President Pence and Second Lady Pence tested negative for COVID-19 and were taking additional precautions leading up to the vice presidential debate.
Resources
- Is pink eye a symptom of COVID-19? (Los Angeles Times)
- Characteristics of Ocular Findings of Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Hubei Province, China (JAMA Ophthalmology)
- Researchers identify pink eye as possible primary symptom of COVID-19 (Ophthalmology Times)
- Ocular manifestations of a hospitalised patient with confirmed 2019 novel coronavirus disease (BMJ)
- Ophthalmic Manifestations Of Coronavirus (COVID-19) (StatPearls)
- Eye Care During the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) (American Academy of Ophthalmology)
- Conjunctivitis and COVID‐19: A meta‐analysis (Journal of Medical Virology)
- Pink Eye May Be a Symptom of COVID-19 in Children, New Study Suggests (American Academy of Opthalmology)
- Is pink eye a symptom of COVID-19? (Los Angeles Times)
- Characteristics of Ocular Findings of Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Hubei Province, China (JAMA Ophthalmology)
- Researchers identify pink eye as possible primary symptom of COVID-19 (Ophthalmology Times)
- Ocular manifestations of a hospitalised patient with confirmed 2019 novel coronavirus disease (BMJ)
- Ophthalmic Manifestations Of Coronavirus (COVID-19) (StatPearls)
- Eye Care During the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) (American Academy of Ophthalmology)
- Conjunctivitis and COVID‐19: A meta‐analysis (Journal of Medical Virology)
- Pink Eye May Be a Symptom of COVID-19 in Children, New Study Suggests (American Academy of Opthalmology)
