Red eyes and tears may be another symptom of coronavirus infection, experts say

Red eyes and tears could be an early symptom of a coronavirus infection, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

As a result, the academy is warning ophthalmologists to be wary of patients with conjunctivitis (pink eye), combined with “fever and respiratory symptoms, including cough and shortness of breath.”

All are symptoms of the potentially fatal COVID-19 virus (along with diarrhea), which can be transmitted by close contact with an infected person or by touching objects they touched, experts say.

The academy first reported “coronavirus may cause pink eye” on March 10 but said it was considered a rare occurrence. At that point, experts feared ophthalmologists could contract the coronavirus from the tears or eye discharge of patients with pink eye.

Now, however, the academy is alerting ophthalmologists they may be the first doctor to spot coronavirus symptoms in patients who are unaware they have the infection.

“Several reports suggest the virus can cause conjunctivitis,” the academy said in a March 18 report. “That increases the likelihood ophthalmologists may be the first providers to evaluate patients possibly infected with COVID-19.”

It’s believed “viral pink eye, or conjunctivitis, develops in about 1% to 3% of people with coronavirus,” the academy reported March 10.

The report that red eyes can be a symptom of the virus comes inconveniently when million of Americans already have those symptoms due to seasonal flu and common spring allergies.

Pink eye is a little more severe, however.

It is “an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane (conjunctiva) that lines your eyelid and covers the white part of your eyeball,” according to the Mayo Clinic. “When small blood vessels in the conjunctiva become inflamed, they’re more visible. This is what causes the whites of your eyes to appear reddish or pink.”

Symptoms depend on which of the three types of pink eye you have, according to WebMD.com:

• Bacterial pink eye causes “burning, itchy eyes that discharge a thick, sticky mucus.”
• Viral pink eye results in a mucus discharge, tears and swelling under the jaw or ear. “People with viral pink eye commonly have symptoms of an upper respiratory infection or cold as well,” the site says.

• Allergic pink eye results in “redness, intense itching, and tears.”

This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 3:25 PM with the headline "Red eyes and tears may be another symptom of coronavirus infection, experts say."