biostudies-literatureShantha JGNEI NIH HHSNational Eye InstituteMacula SocietyWoodruff FoundationNational Institutes of HealthStanley M. Truhlsen Family FoundationAssociation for Research in Vision and Ophthalmologye0277301https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9645628biostudies-literatureUnknown17(11)<h4>Purpose</h4>To assess hospitalized COVID-19 inpatients for the prevalence of retinopathy and tear film SARS-CoV-2 RNA, and associated risk factors for their detection.<h4>Methods</h4>Hospitalized COVID-19 patients underwent dilated ophthalmic examination and fundus photography. Conjunctival swabs were assessed for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR via a triple target assay. We assessed the relationships of retinopathy with clinical outcomes, systemic risk factors and laboratory data.<h4>Results</h4>The median age was 59.5 years and 29 (48%) were female. Retinopathy associated with COVID-19 was observed in 12 of 60 patients (20%). The median age of patients with COVID-19 retinopathy was 51.5 compared to 62.5 years in individuals without retinopathy (p = 0.01). Median BMI was 34.3 in patients with retinPloS oneCOVID-19 and the eye: Systemic and laboratory risk factors for retinopathy and detection of tear film SARS-CoV-2 RNA with a triplex RT-PCR assay.PMC9645628K23 EY030158Mallinckrodt Young Investigator GrantOTA-021-015ERetina Research FoundationSynergy GrantR01 EY029594Regueiro MKrakow DLinderman SLRandleman CShantha JGWaggoner JFashina TStittleburg VWard LYeh SAhmed RDrews-Botsch CfalseCOVID-19 and the eye: Systemic and laboratory risk factors for retinopathy and detection of tear film SARS-CoV-2 RNA with a triplex RT-PCR assay.<h4>Purpose</h4>To assess hospitalized COVID-19 inpatients for the prevalence of retinopathy and tear film SARS-CoV-2 RNA, and associated risk factors for their detection.<h4>Methods</h4>Hospitalized COVID-19 patients underwent dilated ophthalmic examination and fundus photography. Conjunctival swabs were assessed for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR via a triple target assay. We assessed the relationships of retinopathy with clinical outcomes, systemic risk factors and laboratory data.<h4>Results</h4>The median age was 59.5 years and 29 (48%) were female. Retinopathy associated with COVID-19 was observed in 12 of 60 patients (20%). The median age of patients with COVID-19 retinopathy was 51.5 compared to 62.5 years in individuals without retinopathy (p = 0.01). Median BMI was 34.3 in patients with retin2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222025-04-04T19:27:49.031Z2025-04-04T19:27:49.031ZS-EPMC96456283635084110.1371/journal.pone.0277301