Impact of COVID-19 on corneal esthesiometry

• Published in: British journal of ophthalmology Vol. 106; no. 4; pp. 458 - 460
• Main Authors: Tochetto, Lucas Baldissera, de Freitas Santoro, Dalton, Hirai, Flavio, Conte, Danielle Dias, Höfling-Lima, Ana Luisa, Sousa, Luciene B, Bellei, Nancy Cristina Junqueira, De Freitas, Denise, de Oliveira, Lauro Augusto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JR BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.04.2022; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Brief communication; Cornea; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Data collection; Ethics; Foreign bodies; Humans; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Brazil; cornea
• ISSN: 0007-1161; 1468-2079; 1468-2079
• DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2021-320003

Individuals with suspected COVID-19 symptoms (n=202) were tested using nasopharyngeal RT-qPCR. All individuals underwent corneal esthesiometry measurements using the Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer during their first visit; 50 participants underwent an additional measurement at a mean interval of 32.5 (17.8) days. COVID-19 was confirmed in 101 subjects (50%) using nasopharyngeal PCR. The mean time from symptom onset to disease diagnosis and corneal esthesiometry was 4.2 (2.1) days. Mean corneal esthesiometry findings based on the positive and negative PCR status indicated no statistical difference. This study demonstrated that COVID-19 had no effect on corneal esthesiometry in individuals with acute-phase COVID-19.