Omicron Could Be Behind Your Itchy Eyes
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Ever since the pandemic began, there have been some unusual symptoms linked with COVID-19 like COVID toe and rashes. But the Omicron variant is different from past strains of the virus and, with that, there’s another weird sign to keep on your radar: itchy eyes.
Anecdotal reports have surfaced about people experiencing itchy eyes with Omicron. But, of course, plenty of things have been attributed to the virus that aren’t actually symptoms. So, can Omicron cause itchy eyes? Here’s what you need to know.
First, what are the symptoms of Omicron?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists the following as COVID-19 symptoms. But, it’s worth noting, the list hasn’t been updated since February 2021 when the Delta variant was the most common strain of the virus:
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
A mid-December report found that Omicron symptoms are slightly different than they were with past variants. That report analyzed data from 43 cases of COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant and found that most people had these symptoms:
Cough
Fatigue
Congestion
Runny nose
Are itchy eyes a symptom of Omicron?
It’s important to note that the Omicron variant is still a new strain of COVID-19—it was only identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a variant of concern on November 26, 2021. And, because of that, there isn’t a lot of research on how this variant affects people and the symptoms it causes.
There has been some research to suggest that previous strains of COVID-19 have caused conjunctivitis, aka pink eye, in some people. (Pink eye, in case you’re not familiar with it, is an infection of the conjunctiva or transparent membrane that lines your eyelid and covers the white part of your eye. It can cause symptoms like eye redness, itchiness, tearing, and discharge, per the American Academy of Ophthalmology.)
And, with that, experts say it’s entirely possible that Omicron is also causing itchy eyes in some people. “Many respiratory viruses can also impact the conjunctiva of the eye,” says infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
Tatevik Movsisyan, O.D., chief of Advanced Ocular Care Service at The Ohio State University College of Optometry, points out that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, “is a virus that seems to affect many systems.”
Because of that, Dr. Movsisyan says it makes sense that Omicron could impact the eyes and lead to symptoms like redness, irritation, and itching. “With any virus, the body’s response is inflammation, which can cause redness and itching of the eyes,” she says.
How common are itchy eyes with Omicron?
It’s unclear at this point. Pink eye has never been a common symptom of COVID-19 in the past. For example, one study published in The New England Journal of Medicine analyzed the symptoms of 1,000 people with COVID-19 and found that less than 1% had pink eye. It’s unclear whether it’s more or less common with Omicron but “as far as we know right now, this is not common,” Dr. Movsisyan says.
What should you do if you develop itchy eyes?
If you just develop itchy eyes and nothing else, Dr. Adalja says it’s more likely that it’s caused by something other than COVID-19. Itchy eyes due to COVID is “unlikely to occur in isolation,” he says.
But, if you happen to have a cough, congestion, and/or runny nose with your itchy eyes, it’s definitely worth taking a COVID-19 test to try to see what’s going on. And, if you happen to test positive, Dr. Adalja says you can assume that you’re infected with the Omicron variant, which now causes 99.5% of all COVID-19 cases in the U.S., according to CDC data.
How to treat itchy eyes due to Omicron
First, resist the urge to rub your eyes. “It can make the itching worse and can spread the infection to other people if it's in your tears,” says Grayson Armstrong, M.D., M.P.H., director of ophthalmology emergency service at Mass Eye and Ear
To soothe your irritated eyes, Vatinee Bunya, M.D., an ophthalmologist at Penn Medicine, suggests using over-the-counter artificial tears. (You can put them in the refrigerator before you use them for an added cooling effect, she says.)
You can also try using over-the-counter antihistamine eye drops like Zaditor or Pataday. “They prevent itching—it’s like Benadryl for your eyes,” Dr. Armstrong says.
Applying a cool compress to your closed eyelids may also help with the discomfort, Dr. Armstrong says. “That can help a lot because it calms the inflammation,” he says.
If you need to be around others at all, Dr. Bunya suggests washing your hands frequently to try to avoid spreading the infection to others. “Also, do not share face and hand towels or pillowcases,” she says.
Just know this: The feeling will go away with time. “It should subside after the virus has passed,” Dr. Movsisyan says. But, if you’ve recovered from COVID-19 and you’re still dealing with itchy eyes, Dr. Movsisyan recommends seeing an eye doctor to try to figure out what else could be going on.
This article is accurate as of press time. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly evolves and the scientific community’s understanding of the novel coronavirus develops, some of the information may have changed since it was last updated. While we aim to keep all of our stories up to date, please visit online resources provided by theCDC, WHO, and your local public health department to stay informed on the latest news. Always talk to your doctor for professional medical advice.
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