Cluster of chalazia in nurses using eye protection while caring for critically ill patients with COVID-19 in intensive care

The world is facing a frightening pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with thousands of infections and fatalities. After 15 days of hard working in the intensive care unit managing patients with COVID-19, three nurses simultaneously complained about a red eye with painless eyelid swelling and tearing. Ophthalmological examination revealed similar single non-tender inflammatory nodules located in the middle of the lower eyelid, accompanied by conjunctival redness without altered visual acuity or corneal abrasion (figure 1). Chalazion was diagnosed. Combined topical antibiotic and anti-inflammatory (dexamethasone–oxytetracycline) eye ointment was prescribed with recommendations to apply a warm compress to the affected eye with lid massaging to facilitate healing. Figure 1 Chalazion of the lower eyelid in a nurse working with patients with COVID-19 wearing protective glasses disinfected with a solution of didecyldimethylammonium chloride and chlorhexidine digluconate. First, we ruled out COVID-19 in each nurse, as …