Most people who contract Covid-19 make a full recovery within 12 weeks of developing symptoms.
Unfortunately, for some people the infection persists for months - known as long covid. As with coronavirus, long covid symptoms can also vary from person to person.
Commonly, long covid sufferers experience fatigue and breathing issues. But some people have experienced problems with their eyesight after developing long covid.
READ MORE: Covid rules as thousands told not to take tests even if they have symptoms
Here's what you need to know about how and why long covid impacts your vision, as reported in the Mirror.
Dr Peter Hampson, clinical director of the Association of Optometrists , revealed that some long covid patients have reported problems with their eyesight including eye fatigue, changes to vision and even blind spots.
He explained: "There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that covid can mirror similar diseases that occur in the eye.
"Covid can cause blood clots and can lead to similar outcomes as those seen in diabetes and hypertension – where the retina can be damaged, which is known as retinopathy."
He added that when the retina is starved of oxygen due to blood vessels being blocked, breaking, or leaking, this can lead to complications such as damage to your visual field or damage to the sharpness of vision.
Dr Hampson urged people to seek out medical help if they are concerned about their eyesight.
He advised: "If you are concerned, it’s really important to get checked out by an eyecare professional as soon as possible as we know that early interventions make sure you get access to the treatment you need and an overall better outcome for your eye health."
He explained that the easiest thing to do is make an appointment with your optometrist for a sight test and eye health examination, adding: "It’s helpful to explain any problems you are having when making the appointment so they can be sure to make the correct type of appointment to investigate."
Common symptoms of long covid
While extreme tiredness and shortness of breath are the first and most common signs of long covid, there are many symptoms associated with the health condition. These include:
- Chest pain or tightness
- Problems with memory and concentration ("brain fog")
- Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
- Heart palpitations
- Dizziness
- Pins and needles
- Joint pain
- Rashes
- Depression and anxiety
- Tinnitus, earaches
- Feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite
- High temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste
The NHS advises that you seek medical help if you're worried about any of these symptoms, if they've lasted four or more weeks after you've had covid.
You're likely to be asked about your symptoms and how it impacts your life. The doctor may suggest some tests including blood tests, checking your blood pressure and heart rate or a chest X-ray to find out more about your symptoms.
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