Thread by @NjbBari3

Translation.

Going blind.

https://twitter.com/enemyinastate/status/1509562473741008906

I don’t think viral replication will be the only way COVID-19 can make you go blind. I think clots will still play a part, whether in the retinal vein/artery or in the brain.

The eye is an example of an “immune privileged site” like the brain and testes.

Infection (in general not just C19) can persist in these locations for a long time…->

-> and be difficult to treat because drugs don’t get delivered to these locations as easily.

Infection of immune privileged sites can also lead to inflammation that causes leakage of immune cells and antibodies to that site. This can cause the body to recognise parts of the body as “foreign”. ->

Autoimmune attack of eyes/brain/testes can occur (again in general, not only C19).

So I think the eye is at risk from all three mechanisms.

Infection.
Clotting.
Autoimmune destruction.

The vision loss may be gradual or sudden.

As for how to prevent COVID-19 eye infection.

I am waiting for the results of some mechanistic studies on what happens when you expose eyes to virus.

I still wear eye protection in high risk scenarios but->

-> I believe infection probably occurs most frequently through the respiratory pathway and spreads haematogenously.

(by blood and immune cells)

So wear a #respirator.