"Not Every Red Eye Is a Symptom of Coronavirus"

Turkish Ophthalmological Society (TOD) has issued warnings that allergic reactions increase during spring days, causing eye redness, and that this should not be perceived as a coronavirus symptom leading to a rush to hospitals and clinics. TOD stated that conjunctival redness in the eyes is the least commonly observed coronavirus symptom. The Turkish Ophthalmological Society (TOD), representing Turkish eye doctors, conveyed that evaluating all pink or reddened eyes during this period as a coronavirus symptom would be inconsistent with medical and scientific facts. Emphasizing that we are entering the spring months, Turkish Ophthalmological Society General President Prof. Dr. İzzet Can stated that during a period when flowers are blooming and pollen concentration in the air is increasing, the frequency of allergic conjunctivitis in the population will also increase. The TOD General President noted that the resulting cases of pink eye could be mistakenly perceived as a coronavirus eye symptom, leading to a rush to hospitals. Can reiterated the warning that possible panic could result in congestion in eye polyclinics, breach of the social isolation rules being promoted, and consequently accelerate the spread of coronavirus infection.

"Conjunctivitis is a rarely observed symptom in coronavirus"

Turkish Ophthalmological Society General President Prof. Dr. İzzet Can stated that when looking at symptoms that appear with coronavirus disease, conjunctival redness is the least commonly observed symptom. İzzet Can said, "In coronavirus, the most prominent symptom is fever at 87.9 percent and dry cough at 67.7 percent. These are followed by a series of other symptoms such as fatigue, sputum, shortness of breath, muscle pain, and headache. Pink eye, or conjunctival redness, stands out as the least commonly observed symptom at 0.8 percent. As can be seen, eye redness or pink eye, as it is called, is actually observed in very few coronavirus patients."

More people should not go to hospitals with unfounded concerns

"It would not be appropriate to direct more people to hospitals and clinics, which are experiencing quite busy periods during coronavirus times, due to misunderstanding of seasonal natural developments," said TOD General President, adding that contact should be minimal for everyone. "We place great importance on social isolation. We are working to keep our citizens away from all kinds of environments and activities that could increase coronavirus transmission," he said.