Published in Research

COVID-19’s impact on vision and depth perception

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New research published in Nature Communications shows how COVID-19 might affect patients’ vision and depth perception.

Tell me more.

Researchers at Griffith University's Menzies Health and Institute along with South Korea’s Center for Convergent Research for Emerging Virus Infection of the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, investigated SARS-CoV-2’s impact on ocular physiology as well as how the disease might affect visual function by way of the respiratory tract, via the brain. (via)

Tell me about the research.

Investigators observed the ocular tropism (ability of a given virus to productively infect a particular cell, tissue, or host species) and potential ocular transmissions of SARS-CoV-2 in mice and hamsters infected with COVID-19 intranasally. Ocular tropism of SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed through neuronal invasion of the trigeminal and optic nerves (ON).

The ocular and neurotrophic distribution of SARS-CoV-2 were examined in vivo by using the virus’s mCherry clones and a fluorescence imaging system.

What did they find?

Researchers discovered that the trigeminal nerve and the eyes are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. Further, the virus (in animal models) can infect the eye via the respiratory tract, through the brain.

According to principal research leader and co-lead study author, Suresh Mahalingam, PhD: the virus can impact vision when optic nerve inflammation, abnormal fluid build-up, and immune cell infiltration cause the retina to get thicker.

Such retinal inflammation could cause a reduction in depth perception due to blurred vision, but seems to be symptomatic only—not a permanent degeneration of eye tissue. (via)

Takehome.

While the study authors report that SARS-CoV-2 can spread from the lungs to the brain and eyes through a network including the trigeminal and optic nerve, the extraction of ocular inflammation by a viral infection (such as SARS-CoV-2) of the eyes and its clinical significance remains unknown and further investigation is still needed.

Additionally, this data may assist in designing new treatments for COVID-19 patients.