Symptoms of being infected with the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus are said to be similar to the common flu. However, experts have recently called itchy eyes a symptom of Omicron.
Conjunctivitis or inflammation in the form of itchy and red eyes is said to be one of the symptoms of Omicron. According to experts, the virus that attacks the respiratory tract can also affect the sense of sight.
“Some viruses that attack the respiratory tract can affect the eye area,” said infectious disease expert from the Johns Hopkins Center, Amesh A. Adalja, MD, quoted fromCNBC, Thursday, January 27, 2022.
American Academy of Ophthalmologysaid that conjunctivitis can show symptoms such as red, watery, itchy eyes and blurred vision. These complaints also occurred in previous COVID-19 viruses, so experts said it could possibly appear in COVID-19 symptoms Omicron.
Dr Nina Aslam also expressed the same opinion. As quoted fromExpress, conjunctivitis or pink eye is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the thin membrane that lines the inside of your eyelids.
Dr Aslam said that Omicron’s symptoms can surprisingly cause conjunctivitis. A woman was found to have mild respiratory symptoms but showed severe conjunctivitis, and she tested positive for the coronavirus.
Dr Aslam also explained how the COVID-19 virus can attack the eyes. “The cell receptors that the Covid variant uses to enter the body are in the eyes,” he said.
Dr. Aslam added that previous studies have also suggested that Omicron may have a greater capacity to affect the eyes than other variants.
Red eyes due to Omicron can appear even though the infected person does not experience symptoms of respiratory problems.
If Red Eyes are Due to Omicron
If you experience symptoms of red eyes, doctors recommend that you try to maintain eye hygiene. Clean eye discharge properly.
“Wipe the eye crust using clean cotton dipped in cooled boiled water,” said Aslam.
In cases of mild conjunctivitis infection, we can use certain eye drops or eye ointments as treatment.
Main Symptoms of COVID-19 Omicron
Common signs of Omicron according to ZOE Covid research include:
- Dry/itchy throat
- Have a cold
- Sneeze
- Mild muscle pain
- Fatigue
In addition, there are other, less common signs, including brain fog, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, nausea or vomiting, with some people also experiencing difficulty sleeping and night sweats.
Recently, a Berlin hospital revealed that fainting could be a symptom of COVID-19 infection Omicron.
Meanwhile, the CDC said, there are symptoms that should immediately get medical help. Namely if it happens: skin and lips and nails become pale, where this symptom indicates very low oxygen levels in the blood.
Omicron Case in Indonesia
Quoting Kata Data, the development of COVID-19 cases of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) in Indonesia has reached 1,665 cases as of Tuesday, January 25, 2022.
The figure has a difference of 259 cases compared to the previous day. On a weekly basis, COVID-19 cases in Indonesia grew by 137.86 percent.
With the number of Omicron variants, Indonesia is in first place in Southeast Asia. The country with the highest Omicron cases in Southeast Asia is still Singapore with 1,169 cases.
Next is Thailand, which recorded 75.92 percent higher Omicron cases compared to last week. As for daily data, the number of Omicron cases in this country increased by 18.05 percent compared to yesterday.
Then, Malaysia with the number of Omicron cases 463 cases (this number has not changed from the previous). The number of Omicron cases in Cambodia rose 38.26 percent to 159 cases, compared to the previous week and the number of Omicron cases in Vietnam rose 637.5 percent to 59 cases compared to the previous week.
Meanwhile, the total number of Omicron COVID-19 cases worldwide reached 580.73 thousand cases. The number of COVID-19 variants increased compared to the previous week which amounted to 391.34 thousand cases.
That’s the explanation of itchy eyes which are said to be one of the early signs of Omicron infection. The pandemic is not over yet, so keep implementing health protocols and take care of your health and that of your family, okay!
Article has been reviewed by:
dr. Gita Permatasari
General Practitioner and Lactation Consultant
Republished with permission from theAsianParent Indonesia
