{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T08:35:36Z","timestamp":1791362136438,"version":"4.3.1"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"22","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,12]],"date-time":"2022-11-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1668211200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the ocular surface parameters of post-COVID-19 patients when compared to healthy controls. Methods: Patients after symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, as confirmed by a PCR test of their nasopharyngeal swab sample, were enrolled. Complete ophthalmic examination, including visual acuity test, intraocular pressure measurement (IOP), slit-lamp examination, tear osmolarity test, central corneal thickness, endothelial cell number measurements, non-invasive keratograph break-up time (NIKBUT), meniscus height, and the Schirmer\u2019s test were performed and compared with the controls. Results: It must be noted that there were 36 COVID-19 patients and 25 control subjects included in the study. Eye itching and burning (19%) were the most common symptoms of COVID-19 infection, followed by a subjective decrease in vision (17%), conjunctivitis and eye pain were present in 11%, and 6% of the patients had episcleritis. The mean time from initial infection was 6.5 \u00b1 3.9 (range 1\u201324 weeks). Meniscus height was not significantly changed between the COVID-19 (0.34 \u00b1 0.13 mm) group and the control (0.33 \u00b1 0.12 mm, p = 0.88) group. In addition, the NIKBUT-1 (p = 0.88; 7.22 \u00b1 4.60 s and 6.91 \u00b1 4.45 s) and NIKBUT average (p = 0.91, 12.30 \u00b1 5.86 s and 11.77 \u00b1 4.97 s) test results showed no significant change either. Neither was a significant result found in the IOP (p = 0.17, 14.56 \u00b1 2.10 mmHg and 14.11 \u00b1 1.96 mmHg); the Schirmer test (p = 0.18, 20.22 \u00b1 7.92 mm and 20.02 \u00b1 7.17 mm); Tosm (p = 0.16, 294.42 \u00b1 54.51 mOsm\/dL and 299.33 \u00b1 5.65 mOsm\/dL); CCT (p = 0.06, 549.15 \u00b1 28.98 vs. 539.21 vs. 29.08 \u00b5m); nor the endothelial cell density (p = 0.07, 2516.64 \u00b1 287.61 vs. 2454.21 \u00b1 498.60 cells\/mm2). Conclusions: Through this study it was not revealed that there were any significant differences between the post-COVID group and control group in the objective measurements of ocular surface conditions, when performed after the acute phase of COVID-19. The exact incidence and mechanism of ocular findings, especially dry eye disease, in correlation with SARS-CoV-2 requires further research.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm11226697","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,14]],"date-time":"2022-11-14T04:24:10Z","timestamp":1668399850000},"page":"6697","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["The Ocular Surface Symptoms and Tear Film Parameters during and after COVID-19 Infection"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8120-7801","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dominika","family":"Szkodny","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Chair and Clinical Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Zabrze Medical University of Silesia, 40-760 Katowice, Poland"},{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, District Railway Hospital, 40-760 Katowice, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7295-4936","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Adam","family":"Wyl\u0119ga\u0142a","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chair and Clinical Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Zabrze Medical University of Silesia, 40-760 Katowice, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1116-097X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Edyta","family":"Chlasta-Twardzik","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, District Railway Hospital, 40-760 Katowice, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6707-5790","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Edward","family":"Wyl\u0119ga\u0142a","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chair and Clinical Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Zabrze Medical University of Silesia, 40-760 Katowice, Poland"},{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, District Railway Hospital, 40-760 Katowice, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Szkodny, D., Wyl\u0119ga\u0142a, E., Sujka-Franczak, P., Chlasta-Twardzik, E., Fiolka, R., Tomczyk, T., and Wyl\u0119ga\u0142a, A. (2021). Retinal oct findings in patients after covid infection. J. Clin. Med., 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm10153233"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100884","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajoc.2020.100884","article-title":"There is no intraocular affection on a SARS-CoV-2-Infected ocular surface","volume":"20","author":"Lauermann","year":"2020","journal-title":"Am. J. Ophthalmol. Case Rep."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"488","DOI":"10.4103\/ijo.IJO_297_21","article-title":"COVID-19 and Eye: A Review of Ophthalmic Manifestations of COVID-19","volume":"69","author":"Sen","year":"2021","journal-title":"Indian J. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1556","DOI":"10.1097\/ICO.0000000000002509","article-title":"Immunohistochemical Study of SARS-CoV-2 Viral Entry Factors in the Cornea and Ocular Surface","volume":"39","author":"Roehrich","year":"2020","journal-title":"Cornea"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1190","DOI":"10.1136\/bjophthalmol-2020-316263","article-title":"SARS-CoV-2 on the ocular surface: Is it truly a novel transmission route?","volume":"105","author":"Chen","year":"2021","journal-title":"Br. J. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"398","DOI":"10.1111\/ceo.14066","article-title":"Ocular surface disturbance in patients after acute COVID-19","volume":"50","author":"Wan","year":"2022","journal-title":"Clin. Exp. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e2224359","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2022.24359","article-title":"Rates and Factors Associated with Documentation of Diagnostic Codes for Long COVID in the National Veterans Affairs Health Care System","volume":"5","author":"Ioannou","year":"2022","journal-title":"JAMA Netw. Open"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"428","DOI":"10.1177\/01410768211032850","article-title":"Symptoms, complications and management of long COVID: A review","volume":"114","author":"Aiyegbusi","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. R. Soc. Med."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Aggarwal, K., Agarwal, A., Jaiswal, N., Dahiya, N., Ahuja, A., Mahajan, S., Tong, L., Duggal, M., Singh, M., and Agrawal, R. (2020). Ocular surface manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE, 15.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0241661"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.1016\/S1542-0124(12)70082-4","article-title":"The epidemiology of dry eye disease: Report of the epidemiology subcommittee of the international Dry Eye WorkShop (2007)","volume":"5","author":"Smith","year":"2007","journal-title":"Ocul. Surf."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"1842","article-title":"Effect of facemasks on the tear film during the COVID-19 pandemic","volume":"12","author":"Shalaby","year":"2022","journal-title":"Eur. J. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dag, U., \u00c7aglayan, M., \u00d6nc\u00fcl, H., Vardar, S., and Alaus, M.F. (2022). Mask-associated Dry Eye Syndrome in Healthcare Professionals as a New Complication Caused by the Prolonged Use of Masks during Covid-19 Pandemic Period. Ophthalmic Epidemiol., 1\u20136.","DOI":"10.1080\/09286586.2022.2053549"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"144","DOI":"10.5455\/medarh.2021.75.144-148","article-title":"Mask-Associated Dry Eye During COVID-19 Pandemic-How Face Masks Contribute to Dry Eye Disease Symptoms","volume":"75","author":"Krolo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Med. Arch."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2141","DOI":"10.1007\/s10792-022-02213-9","article-title":"Impact of prolonged face mask wearing on tear break-up time and dry eye symptoms in health care professionals","volume":"42","author":"Palamar","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101032","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajoc.2021.101032","article-title":"Increased incidence of chalazion associated with face mask wear during the COVID-19 pandemic","volume":"22","author":"Silkiss","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am. J. Ophthalmol. Case Rep."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"601","DOI":"10.1038\/s41591-021-01283-z","article-title":"Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome","volume":"27","author":"Nalbandian","year":"2021","journal-title":"Nat. Med."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"477","DOI":"10.1097\/ICO.0000000000002643","article-title":"Ocular Surface Impairment After Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Cohort Study","volume":"40","author":"Gambini","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cornea"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"143","DOI":"10.2478\/hukin-2019-0004","article-title":"Alteration of Blinking and Sex Differences During Physical Exercise Affect Tear Osmolarity","volume":"67","author":"Pilch","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Hum. Kinet."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"203","DOI":"10.3341\/kjo.2019.0133","article-title":"Correlation Analysis between Ocular Surface Parameters with Subjective Symptom Severity in Dry Eye Disease","volume":"34","author":"Lee","year":"2020","journal-title":"Korean J. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9958713","DOI":"10.1155\/2021\/9958713","article-title":"Conjunctival Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Clinical Assessment in Early Ocular Graft versus Host Disease","volume":"2021","author":"Berchicci","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"DES64","DOI":"10.1167\/iovs.17-23746","article-title":"Short Tear Film Breakup Time-Type Dry Eye","volume":"59","author":"Tsubota","year":"2018","journal-title":"Investig. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"82","DOI":"10.47626\/1679-4435-2021-598","article-title":"Covid-19: Risk of ocular transmission in health care professionals","volume":"19","author":"Matos","year":"2021","journal-title":"Rev. Bras. Med. Trab."},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"5","article-title":"Do Ocular Fluids Represent a Transmission Route of SARS-CoV-2 Infection?","volume":"7","author":"Costagliola","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Med."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"418","DOI":"10.1111\/cxo.13088","article-title":"The ocular surface, coronaviruses and COVID-19","volume":"103","author":"Willcox","year":"2020","journal-title":"Clin. Exp. Optom."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"569126","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2020.569126","article-title":"Ocular Involvement in Coronavirus Disease 2019: Up-to-Date Information on Its Manifestation, Testing, Transmission, and Prevention","volume":"7","author":"Chen","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front. Med."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100","DOI":"10.21037\/atm-20-6026","article-title":"Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the ocular surface in different phases of COVID-19 patients in Shanghai, China","volume":"9","author":"Li","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ann. Transl. Med."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e21699","DOI":"10.1097\/MD.0000000000021699","article-title":"Investigation of dry eye symptoms of medical staffs working in hospital during 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak","volume":"99","author":"Long","year":"2020","journal-title":"Medicine"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"977","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ophtha.2020.03.026","article-title":"Assessing Viral Shedding and Infectivity of Tears in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Patients","volume":"127","author":"Seah","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ophthalmology"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"634","DOI":"10.1080\/09273948.2020.1838558","article-title":"Evaluation of Nasopharyngeal and Conjunctival Swab Samples of Hospitalised Patients with Confirmed COVID-19","volume":"29","author":"Sezgin","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ocul. Immunol. Inflamm."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e02192-17","DOI":"10.1128\/JVI.02192-17","article-title":"Infection and Replication of Influenza Virus at the Ocular Surface","volume":"92","author":"Creager","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Virol."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e220","DOI":"10.1016\/S1473-3099(18)30102-6","article-title":"The eyes have it: Influenza virus infection beyond the respiratory tract","volume":"18","author":"Belser","year":"2018","journal-title":"Lancet Infect Dis."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e000630","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjophth-2020-000630","article-title":"Human coronaviruses: Ophthalmic manifestations","volume":"5","author":"Lim","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMJ Open Ophthalmol."}],"container-title":["Journal of Clinical Medicine"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2077-0383\/11\/22\/6697\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T01:16:55Z","timestamp":1760145415000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2077-0383\/11\/22\/6697"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,12]]},"references-count":32,"journal-issue":{"issue":"22","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,11]]}},"alternative-id":["jcm11226697"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/jcm11226697","relation":{},"ISSN":["2077-0383"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2077-0383","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,12]]}}}