Red eyes is a symptom of Covid-19, can last long after the illness, does not cause discomfort or mild pain; But some cases of red eye sequelae are worrisome.
Doctor, Doctor Hoang Thanh Tuan (Deputy Dean of Plastic Surgery Department, National Institute of Burns), founder of an online support consulting group to take care of F0 at home, is consulting treatment for a patient. Some F0 have red eyes sequelae. A 38-year-old man, after contracting Covid-19, still had red eyes on both sides with slight pain, lasting for many days, but vision was not affected much. He is worried because this condition is rare, “I don’t know if it’s dangerous or not, is it necessary to smoke ginger or intervene?”, the patient asked the doctor.
The doctor said that the red eyes are caused by the blood vessels in the eye becoming enlarged and dilated, a sign of an ophthalmic or systemic condition. This condition can be benign or serious depending on the accompanying symptoms such as decreased vision, eye pain, glare…
About 11% of people with Covid-19 have symptoms of red eyes, the most common is conjunctivitis, accounting for 89%. Conjunctivitis is a common eye infection, caused by viruses or bacteria, and sometimes by certain irritants, that can be easily treated and avoided. Patients with red eye symptoms present with the white parts of the eye becoming pink or red, causing no discomfort or the eyes may be sore, itchy or sticky, watery, and watery.
When infected with Covid-19, the transmission of nCoV through the tear film can persist, even after the patient has recovered, leading to post-Covid red eye sequelae. World studies report this from the very beginning of the epidemic. A 65-year-old female patient who traveled from Wuhan to Italy in January 2020, was hospitalized with symptoms of cough, sore throat, and conjunctivitis in both eyes. Symptoms in this person’s eyes recovered after 20 days, the researchers still found viral RNA molecules at day 27.
A patient with red eyes due to Covid-19 doctor advises treatment. Photo: provided by the doctor
In some cases, the red eye sign is not just conjunctivitis but some more dangerous conditions, such as anterior uveitis (an inflammation of the front part of the eyeball), associated with the disease response. multisystem systemic inflammatory response. 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 venous occlusion. retinal vessels, more severe retinal artery occlusion, causing irreversible blindness.
Covid-19 patients may have optic neuritis caused by a virus that directly invades the optic nerve or by a cytokine storm, manifesting loss of vision, pain when squinting, and abnormal light reflexes. normal and papilledema. In addition, if ischemic damage to a part of the retina can cause symptoms of loss of a field of vision, the patient cannot clearly see a field of vision. Other possible symptoms behind the eyeball include retinal degeneration, posterior uveitis, and multifocal retinal lesions.
Therefore, if you have red eyes with unusual signs, you need to be evaluated by an eye specialist. To prevent the sequelae of red eyes after Covid-19, right from the time of illness, you should prepare 0.9% Nacl physiological saline (10 ml) for eye drops. Physiological saline has the effect of washing away viruses and inflammatory factors from the surface of the eyeball, helping the return of tears and faster recovery in cases of red eye.
Other drugs used to treat pink eye when infected with Covid-19 need to consult a doctor, do not arbitrarily drop, apply medicine, steam. The time and dose of antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops and eye drops are very important, because if they are used incorrectly, they can make the disease worse or last longer, or have other side effects. desired (dry eyes, glaucoma, blindness).
In addition, to replenish the general condition, drink enough water, take more vitamins (A, C, E), keep a relaxed, optimistic spirit, treat Covid-19 according to the instructions of the doctor. When the Covid-19 condition gets better, the eye symptoms will also partially improve. See a specialist soon if your eyes feel blurred or if your eyes are sore.
.
