Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Aug 31, 2024 2 months, 3 weeks, 1 day, 20 hours, 36 minutes ago
Medical News: A New Focus on the Eye’s Role in COVID-19
The global COVID-19 pandemic has spurred a wide array of research into how the SARS-CoV-2 virus enters the human body. While the respiratory tract has been the primary focus, recent findings from a study conducted by researchers from Friedrich Alexander University in Erlangen, Germany, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, India, and the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, have brought attention to the eye’s tear ducts as a potential entry point for the virus. This
Thailand Medical News report explores these findings and discusses the implications for public health.
New study reveals potential SARS-CoV-2 entry point through the eye’s tear ducts
Thailand Medical News had already sounded warnings in the past that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can gain entry into human host via the eyes and also cause a variety of eye issues.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-news:-new-report-in-lancet-confirms-that-coronavirus-can-spread-through-eyes
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/virus-research-shows-that-mask-alone-not-sufficient-as-protective-goggles-also-required-by-healthcare-staff-and-others-to-prevent-contracting-sars-cov
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-news-covid-19-studies-hong-kong-researchers-say-that-eyes-are-also-an-important-entry-point-for-sars-cov-2-coronavirus
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-ophthalmology-sars-cov-2-does-attack-the-eyes-and-can-also-be-an-entry-point-for-the-virus,-hence-the-need-to-also-wear-goggles
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-news-italian-researchers-find-that-sars-cov-2-can-affect-the-retina-in-the-eyes
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-infection-linked-to-rare-vision-loss-a-case-study
htt
ps://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-even-mild-covid-19-can-cause-microvasculature-changes-of-the-optic-nerve
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-and-eyes-doctors-report-case-of-retinal-vein-occlusion-due-to-covid-19-in-patient-more-cases-of-eyes-being-attacked-by-sars-cov-2-emerging
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-news-post-mortem-study-shockingly-reveals-prevalence-of-sars-cov-2-coronavirus-in-eye-ocular-tissues
(Please refer to TMN website as there are about 38 studies related to this)
Study Overview: The Eye's Hidden Vulnerability
The study, which aimed to evaluate the lacrimal drainage system (LDS) as a portal of entry for SARS-CoV-2, utilized a variety of methods to investigate the presence of key receptors and enzymes in the tissue samples from human lacrimal ducts. Researchers examined the expression of ACE2, the main receptor for SARS-CoV-2, and cofactors such as TMPRSS2, which facilitate the virus's entry into cells. They also analyzed other enzymes like cathepsinB, CD147, and furin, which play significant roles in viral infection. This article will delve into the key findings of this research.
Key Findings: The Role of the Lacrimal Ducts
The study revealed that the lacrimal drainage system, which includes the lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct, could indeed be a significant site for SARS-CoV-2 entry. The researchers detected the presence of ACE2 and other relevant receptors and enzymes in all the tissue samples examined. This suggests that the virus could bind to these receptors in the tear ducts and potentially initiate systemic infection.
The average mucosal surface area of the lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct was calculated to be approximately 110 mm², which is a considerable size considering the relatively long tear passage time of about 3 minutes. This extended contact time within a confined space could increase the likelihood of the virus entering the body through this route.
Expanding on the Findings: Detailed Insights
The study's findings suggest that the tear ducts are not merely passive conduits for tears but may play an active role in the body’s vulnerability to SARS-CoV-2. The detection of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 at both the gene and protein levels indicates that the lacrimal ducts have the necessary components for the virus to latch on and penetrate the body. This has significant implications, especially in healthcare settings where eye protection might be overlooked.
Interestingly, the study also noted that the mucosal surface area of the lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct in men was slightly larger than in women, although this difference was not deemed significant. The researchers highlighted that the symmetry between the left and right sides of the lacrimal system further supports the idea that these ducts could be consistently vulnerable to viral entry.
Implications for Eye Protection: A Call for Action
The findings of this study underscore the importance of considering eye protection as part of standard COVID-19 preventive measures. While masks have become ubiquitous, the potential for viral transmission through the eyes has not been as widely recognized. The study suggests that wearing protective eyewear, especially in high-risk environments, could reduce the likelihood of infection through the tear ducts.
Moreover, this research raises questions about the adequacy of current public health guidelines, which largely focus on respiratory transmission. If the eyes are indeed a significant entry point for SARS-CoV-2, then more comprehensive protective measures may be necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Conclusion: The Need for Further Research
In conclusion, this study provides compelling evidence that the lacrimal drainage system could be a previously underappreciated route for SARS-CoV-2 entry into the human body. The presence of ACE2, TMPRSS2, and other relevant receptors in the lacrimal ducts suggests that the virus could exploit this pathway to initiate infection. However, as the study was conducted on tissue samples from body donors, further research is needed to determine the exact risk this poses in living humans.
Given the potential implications for public health, it is crucial that future studies explore whether the receptors in the lacrimal ducts are present in sufficient quantities to facilitate viral entry and whether eye protection should be emphasized more strongly in COVID-19 prevention strategies.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Ocular Surface.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S154201242400096X
For the latest COVID-19 News, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/researchers-warn-that-sars-cov-2-can-infect-the-meibomian-glands-of-the-eyes
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-causes-changes-to-ocular-microbiome-which-can-affect-eye-health
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-brazilian-study-reveals-potential-impact-of-covid-19-on-babies-vision
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/monkeypox-mpox-can-cause-a-variety-of-eye-issues-that-can-result-in-vision-loss
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