Zeynep Kamil Med J. 2021; 52(4): 188-192 | DOI: 10.14744/zkmj.2021.59489

Evaluation of the relationship between ocular surface symptoms and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in COVID-19 patients

Betül Önal Günay¹, Ahmet Kalkýþým¹, Cenap Mahmut Esenülkü¹, Gökhan Çelik^2
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Health Sciences, Turkey. Trabzon Kanuni Training and Research Hospital, Trabzon, Turkey
²Department of Ophthalmology, University of Health Sciences, Turkey. Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children’s Training and Research Hospital, Ýstanbul, Turkey

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to evaluate ocular surface symptoms and their association with platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in patients who were clinically confirmed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) using Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire.
METHODS: Thirty-five COVID-19 hospitalized patients were included in the study. All patients had positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction test results of nasopharyngeal and throat swab specimens as well as positive findings on computed tomography consistent with COVID-19. Ocular and medical histories were obtained from patients. Laboratory findings were noted. OSDI questionnaire was used to evaluate ocular surface symptoms.
RESULTS: There were 20 females (57.1%) and 15 males (42.9%) with a mean age 40.5 (95% CI: 35.8–45.2) years in the study. The mean OSDI scores were 12.6 (95% CI: 7.8–17.5). OSDI scores were significantly correlated with PLR (r=−0.516, p=0.028).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Ocular surface problem is likely to occur in COVID-19 patients even in the absence of apparent ocular surface findings. PLR may have a relevance to ocular surface symptoms in COVID-19 patients.

Keywords: COVID-19, dry eye, ocular surface disease index, ocular surface, symptoms.

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