Beware of sore eyes and red eyes after Covid-19

According to medical experts, in Vietnam there has been no research on this.Covid-19However, a 2021 meta-analysis by Nasiri found that in 7,300 COVID-19 patients, 11% had ocular manifestations, commonly conjunctivitis, dry eyes, red eyes, watery eyes, and itching. Of these, 30% of patients with long-term COVID-19 had symptoms of dry eyes, heavy eyes, and eye pain.

In fact, recently, eye clinics have continuously received many cases of patients with post-COVID-19 eye pain. Most F0 have symptoms of red eyes, the most common being conjunctivitis. The main cause of F0 having eye pain and red eyes after recovering from the disease is the virus multiplying in the eye mucosa.

Patients with post-COVID-19 conjunctivitis often present with red eyes in the white parts of the eyes, which are not uncomfortable, or the eyes may be painful, itchy or gritty, with excessive tearing and discharge, accompanied by eye pain.

In addition, COVID-19 can affect the retina and choroid (the back part of the eyeball) through anemia, vasculitis, damage to retinal vascular endothelial cells, leading to retinal vein occlusion, more severe retinal artery occlusion, causing irreversible blindness.

In addition, many studies around the world have shown that some cases of post-COVID-19 patients with red eye pain are not simply a sign of more dangerous eye diseases such as anterior uveitis (an inflammation of the anterior segment of the eyeball) due to multi-organ systemic inflammatory response disease; retinal microvascular disease related to post-recovery blood clotting disorders.

F0 needs to clean eyes with 0.9% saline. Illustrative photo

What should F0 do to prevent eye diseases caused by COVID-19?

Conjunctivitis is a common eye infection caused by viruses or bacteria, sometimes by some allergens, that can be treated and prevented. Specifically:

- Clean the eyes with 0.9% saline (10 ml). Saline helps wash away viruses and inflammatory factors from the surface of the eyeball, helping tear drainage and faster recovery in cases of red eyes.

- When you have COVID-19 or have recovered, you should limit looking at phones, computers, and electronic devices for long periods of time to avoid eye strain and retinal damage.

- Post-COVID-19 patients with pink eye, redness, irritation, and pain for many days after testing negative should absolutely not self-medicate. It is best to see a specialist for advice and proper treatment to avoid serious complications.