Manifestations of Ocular Surface Diseases in Patients with Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-۱۹: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: The epidemiology of ocular manifestations and associated complications in patients with Corona Virus Disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) have been investigated worldwide. Herein, we aimed to summarize the frequency of ocular symptoms of COVID-۱۹ in the current systematic review and meta-analysis using available literature.Materials and Methods: A search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Embase electronic databases to review the systematic literature until August ۲۰۲۱. The Hoy et al., ۲۰۱۲ tool was used to evaluate the quality of studies. For Data extraction, two reviewers blind and independently extracted data from the abstract and full text of the studies included. ۹۵% confidence interval for effect size with random effect model and restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method were calculated. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata/MP v.۱۶ software (The fastest version of Stata).Results: Initially, ۲۱۰ studies were retrieved, of which we reviewed the full text of ۲۴ records, and eight were selected for final meta-analysis. The prevalence of redness in patients with COVID-۱۹ was ۱۲.۳۷% (ES, ۹۵% CI -۱.۱۱%, ۲۵.۸۵%), and heterogeneity was found (I۲ = ۹۹.۳۷%; p <۰.۰۰۱) (High heterogeneity). The prevalence of Ocular manifestations as the first symptom of COVID-۱۹ in patients was ۲.۶۳% (ES, ۹۵% CI ۱.۲۳%, ۴.۰۳%).Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis found the prevalence of redness, dryness, ocular pain, foreign body sensation, discharge, itching, follicular conjunctivitis, and watering as ۱۲.۳۷%, ۲۶.۷۰%, ۳۰.۶۴%, ۱۴.۴۷%, ۱۹.۹۳%, ۸.۷۷%, ۱۲.۷۷%, and ۱۰.۲۳%, respectively.