Receptors modulation on the ocular surface: A novel insight into the ocular infection and disease transmission of SARS‐COV‐2

Kaushik, Jaya; Singh, Ankita; Kochhar, Divya; Murari, Thomala; Shetty, Rakesh; Parihar, Jitendra Kumar Singh

Ever since its outbreak in December 2019, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has shown a rapid spread across the globe and been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020. Recently published studies have shown a strong speculation that SARS-CoV-2 may be transmitted through conjunctiva. In this review article, we have analyzed the dynamics of receptor modulation on the ocular surface that may be involved in the ocular transmission of the disease. Coronavirus, at the moment, albeit seems to have a low risk of ocular spread, the possibility of its long-term survival and replication in the conjunctiva cannot be overlooked, emphasizing the importance of eye protection for prevention of contamination from external droplets and aerosol. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.