COVID-19 & Eye Health

We are all familiar with the main signs of COVID-19 – a persistent cough, fever, fatigue, and a loss of sense of smell and/or taste. But did you know that some people also experience ocular symptoms? A recent survey from BMJ Open Ophthalmology reports that 81% of participants reported to have experienced ocular symptoms within 2 weeks of other COVID-19 symptoms.[1]

Of those experiencing ocular symptoms, 18% of people experienced photophobia, a sensitivity to light, 17% reported itchy eyes and 16% reported general sore eye symptoms.[1]

Here are some useful tips for your eye health:

Visit your optometrist
If you are experiencing eye health related symptoms, make an appointment to see your optometrist. You should only visit your optometrist if you do not have any COVID symptoms to reduce the spread of the virus.
Wear your glasses
If you are a contact lens wearer, you may find it beneficial to wear your glasses to give your eyes a rest.[2] Taking a break from wearing contact lenses can also ease symptoms of dry eye.
Maintain good eyelid hygiene
Ensure you keep your eyelids and eyelashes clean. This can be done using ocular foams such as Naviblef® Intensive Care and Naviblef® Daily Care containing Tea Tree oil which has antiseptic properties that can help reduce the risk of infections caused by bacteria and Demodex present on eyelids and eyelashes.[3] [4]
Add heat to relieve irritated eyes
You may benefit from adding a heated eye compress to your daily ocular health routine, particularly if you have irritated eyes, itchy, burning, or gritty sensations all of which could be signs of meibomian gland dysfunction.[2] MeiboPatch® provides warming relief for your eyes and has a unique temperature test strip to ensure it reaches the optimal temperature to take effect without burning you.[5]
Use a lubricating eye drop
Use an eye drop.[6] Eye drops can provide lubrication to the eye to relieve dry eye sensations. To find out more about dry eye drops and their benefits, visit www.visufarma.com/UK