Eye tests can reveal if you have long Covid - 3 crucial symptoms to know
Eye tests can reveal if patients have long Covid or not, boffins have claimed.
Researchers say there is a clear connection between the condition and changes in blood vessels. Following the pandemic, between 10% to 35% of people have suffered from long Covid. Symptoms include experiencing respiratory problems and fatigue after getting the all clear.
It has been known to change blood vessels, affecting the endothelium, the inner wall of the blood vessels. Focusing on smaller blood vessels, located in the eye, scientists believe they can identify the remaining pathogens.
Research was carried out at the Technical University of Munich, in Germany. Professor Christoph Schmaderer, managing senior physician at Klinkikum rechts der Isar - TUM's university hospital - said: "Blood vessels in the eye could offer a clue to the condition of small blood vessels in the whole body."
Eye tests can reveal if patients have long Covid, experts say (Getty Images)The results from the study showed that some small arteries were significantly constricted in patients with long Covid, as well as reducing their response to light stimulation. Further studies are required to create a reliable test to accurately diagnose the remaining virus. "I am confident that a tool can be developed on the basis of our results in order to diagnose long Covid with confidence," said Prof Schmaderer.
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It comes as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that “sporadic” cases of the BA.2.86 strain - known commonly as the Pirola variant - are “in most regions” of the UK, and rates are expected to rise as we head into winter as people mix more indoors.
The Pirola strain was first identified in the UK in late August and has since been detected in 15 countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain and the US. According to the UKHSA’s latest figures, there have been 54 confirmed cases of Pirola in the UK, 48 of which are in England and six in Scotland. As yet, no cases have been identified in Wales or Northern Ireland.
Of the 48 cases in England, 30 were identified as part of a care home outbreak investigation in the East of England, while the other 18 were identified through routine genomic surveillance.
A total of 10 of the 48 cases were hospitalised, two were tested in an emergency department and six have unknown hospitalisation status. But the UKHSA has said there were no known deaths due to Covid among these cases. Health experts have said early data indicates that the Pirola strain is no more likely to evade existing antibodies than the XBB.1.5 variant, which has been circulating widely in the UK.
There is also currently no evidence to suggest that people who are infected with Pirola are likely to become more seriously ill than if they catch other variants currently in circulation, and vaccination should provide continued protection.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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