COVID Virus RNA found in ocular tissue.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33176215/

This is an interesting paper that shows how important testing corneal donors is and helps to illustrate at least one of the reasons why in the UK our donation numbers are down by almost 50%. Whilst the numbers weren’t very high, they found the virus in 17/132 donated tissues, it does show how vital the work done by NHSBT is.

The regulations that govern tissue donation and processing in the UK are amongst the most stringent in the world and patients can be reassured that they are protected by these regulations and that serious adverse events after transplantation are extremely rare. In this ‘new era’ of COVID and with the UK in firmly in the grip of a second wave, sadly people are going to be waiting longer for sight saving corneal surgery.