key: cord-0813709-74t5yf4g
authors: Hamon, Loïc; Bayyoud, Tarek; Seitz, Berthold
title: Ocular Findings in Patients with COVID-19: Impact on Eye Banking [Letter]
date: 2021-05-17
journal: Clin Ophthalmol
DOI: 10.2147/opth.s317378
sha: 12ed5e708bf4f782fe9194cbadd7761449877d15
doc_id: 813709
cord_uid: 74t5yf4g

nan

corneoscleral buttons from all post-mortem donors since April 2020, revealed any presence of SARS-CoV-2. We therefore conclude that the risk of SARS-CoV-2 contamination via corneal transplantation, after exclusion of infected or highly suspicious donors, is very low to absent.

In 2020, many eye banks drastically reduced or even ceased their activity as a preventive measure during the pandemic. 4 Facing the lack of evidence for post-mortem SARS-CoV-2 activity or replicability in ocular tissues, and considering the increasing cumulative number of patients needing a corneal tissue for transplantation, we recommend to continue collection of all available corneas, as long as the appropriate precautions are taken. Considering the possibility of ocular transmission through "ocular route", only tissue from donors with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection or with a high clinical suspicion for COVID-19 should not be selected for transplantation purposes. 5 

Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through the ocular route

Presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the cornea of viremic patients with COVID-19

Absence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 RNA in human corneal tissues

SARS-CoV-2: impact on, risk assessment and countermeasures in German Eye Banks

First results of investigations of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in human corneal tissue

its officers, agents, employees, related entities or the Clinical Ophthalmology editors. While all reasonable steps have been taken to confirm the content of each letter

Key topics include: Optometry; Visual science; Pharmacology and drug therapy in eye diseases; Basic Sciences; Primary and Secondary eye care; Patient Safety and Quality of Care Improvements. This journal is indexed on PubMed Central and CAS, and is the official journal of The Society of Clinical Ophthalmology (SCO). The manuscript management system is completely online and includes a very quick and fair peer-review system

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this communication.