Optical quality changes of the eye during peak SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in young adults

Introduction: To determine whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection affects corneal morphology and optical quality. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ophthalmological indicators were examined during the peak of SARS-CoV-2 infection after adjusting for publ...

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Main Authors: He Tian, Qian Fan, Wenjing Gao, Yan Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Heliyon
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024155284
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author He Tian
Qian Fan
Wenjing Gao
Yan Wang
author_facet He Tian
Qian Fan
Wenjing Gao
Yan Wang
author_sort He Tian
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: To determine whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection affects corneal morphology and optical quality. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ophthalmological indicators were examined during the peak of SARS-CoV-2 infection after adjusting for public health control measures. Participants were divided into control (remained uninfected), A (infected during follow-up), and B (infected prior to the first consultation) groups. Effects of varying SARS-CoV-2 infection levels were determined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Changes in corneal morphology, backscatter, and aberrations were measured. Corneal parameters, such as flat keratometry, steep keratometry, and surface variance, vertical asymmetry, height asymmetry, and height decentration indices were considered. Results: Overall, 110 participants (208 eyes, 42.7 % male; age 17–31 years) were enrolled. Eighteen (16.3 %) were infection-free during the outbreak with unchanged corneal morphology, backscatter, and aberration. In group A, 34.73 ± 9.30 days after infection, the backscatter of the anterior corneal layer and central layer (both p = 0.000) decreased. Total low-order aberration, defocus, horizontal coma, and spherical aberration of the cornea increased (p < 0.05), while corneal morphology after infection did not change (p > 0.05). In group B, a decrease in backscattering in the corneal middle layer and an increase in horizontal coma (p < 0.05) were noted. Conclusion: Backscattering of the anterior and intermediate layers of the cornea decreased and corneal aberrations increased after SARS-CoV-2 infection, which affected corneal optical quality. However, corneal morphology and thickness remained unchanged. Ophthalmological indicators and optical quality should be monitored during SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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spelling doaj-art-314b6e7a51dd46dea62cfe90781f519d2024-12-13T10:58:22ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402024-12-011023e39497Optical quality changes of the eye during peak SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in young adultsHe Tian0Qian Fan1Wenjing Gao2Yan Wang3Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China; Nankai University Eye Institute, Nankai University Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nankai University, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin, ChinaClinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China; Nankai University Eye Institute, Nankai University Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nankai University, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin, ChinaBeijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaClinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China; Nankai University Eye Institute, Nankai University Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nankai University, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China; Corresponding author. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Tianjin Eye Hospital, No 4. Gansu Road, He-ping District, Tianjin, China, 300020.Introduction: To determine whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection affects corneal morphology and optical quality. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ophthalmological indicators were examined during the peak of SARS-CoV-2 infection after adjusting for public health control measures. Participants were divided into control (remained uninfected), A (infected during follow-up), and B (infected prior to the first consultation) groups. Effects of varying SARS-CoV-2 infection levels were determined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Changes in corneal morphology, backscatter, and aberrations were measured. Corneal parameters, such as flat keratometry, steep keratometry, and surface variance, vertical asymmetry, height asymmetry, and height decentration indices were considered. Results: Overall, 110 participants (208 eyes, 42.7 % male; age 17–31 years) were enrolled. Eighteen (16.3 %) were infection-free during the outbreak with unchanged corneal morphology, backscatter, and aberration. In group A, 34.73 ± 9.30 days after infection, the backscatter of the anterior corneal layer and central layer (both p = 0.000) decreased. Total low-order aberration, defocus, horizontal coma, and spherical aberration of the cornea increased (p < 0.05), while corneal morphology after infection did not change (p > 0.05). In group B, a decrease in backscattering in the corneal middle layer and an increase in horizontal coma (p < 0.05) were noted. Conclusion: Backscattering of the anterior and intermediate layers of the cornea decreased and corneal aberrations increased after SARS-CoV-2 infection, which affected corneal optical quality. However, corneal morphology and thickness remained unchanged. Ophthalmological indicators and optical quality should be monitored during SARS-CoV-2 infection.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024155284Corneal morphologyCoronavirusBackscatterCorneal aberrationOptical quality
spellingShingle He Tian
Qian Fan
Wenjing Gao
Yan Wang
Optical quality changes of the eye during peak SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in young adults
Heliyon
Corneal morphology
Coronavirus
Backscatter
Corneal aberration
Optical quality
title Optical quality changes of the eye during peak SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in young adults
title_full Optical quality changes of the eye during peak SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in young adults
title_fullStr Optical quality changes of the eye during peak SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in young adults
title_full_unstemmed Optical quality changes of the eye during peak SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in young adults
title_short Optical quality changes of the eye during peak SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in young adults
title_sort optical quality changes of the eye during peak sars cov 2 pandemic in young adults
topic Corneal morphology
Coronavirus
Backscatter
Corneal aberration
Optical quality
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024155284
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AT wenjinggao opticalqualitychangesoftheeyeduringpeaksarscov2pandemicinyoungadults
AT yanwang opticalqualitychangesoftheeyeduringpeaksarscov2pandemicinyoungadults