What are the recommendations for patients suffering from severe conjunctivitis and keratoconjunctivitis during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Patients should continue baseline treatment as established by their physician and current guidelines. According to a panel of experts, low-dose corticosteroids or antiallergic eye drops continue to be the first line of treatment for allergic conjunctivitis during the current pandemic. Although there is no evidence on the possible effect of SARS-CoV-2 on patients using ocular immunomodulating drugs, in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis and allergic keratoconjunctivitis the use of local immunomodulatory treatment is considered safe in non-infected patients and should be monitored closely in those with active infection. The use of systemic immunosuppressants for severe COVID-19 cases should be considered on an individual basis117.