**5. Conclusion**

With the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in December 2019, the reporting of ocular symptoms observed in COVID-19 patients attracted many researchers and numerous publications were published in a short time to clarify the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and the eye. Despite the fact that ocular symptoms present a low prevalence relative to respiratory and systemic symptoms, there is strong evidence for the ocular transmission of the SARS-CoV-2. The eye surfaces are one of the primary infection sites for SARS-CoV-2 and conjunctival secretions and tears can cause systemic spread of the virus. Additionally, the virus can use the ocular surfaces as a gateway to the respiratory tract.

Revealing the relationship between coronaviruses and the eye is of great importance in the diagnosis, treatment and infection control in both present and potential viral infections. Although many studies are investigating the ocular tropism of respiratory viruses, ocular transmission routes should be better understood in order to develop novel treatment methods such as antiviral agents that can be used in

ocular treatments against RNA viruses. Besides, non-invasive retinal examinations can be evaluated as a reflection of the patients' current systemic thrombotic condition and can be used in long-term patient follow-up related to COVID-19.

Considering that the first or only symptom of the COVID-19 may be conjunctivitis and virus can spread via tears even from asymptomatic patients, ophthalmologists and healthcare professionals should be aware of the risk and take necessary precautionary measures.
