Wisma Atlet Hospital Conducts Research On Early Detection Of COVID-19 Through The Eyes

Illustration (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The COVID-19 Emergency Hospital Research Unit Wisma Atlet Kemayoran is conducting research on early detection of COVID-19, simply by observing and eye swab.

"This can be a fast and inexpensive screening to find out who is infected with COVID-19, thus accelerating the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic," said the Coordinator of the COVID-19 Emergency Hospital (RSDC-19) Kemayoran Athlete House Maj. Gen. TNI Dr. dr. Ratmono in Jakarta. , reported by Antara, Monday, December 21.

Early detection is the key in treating a disease to increase the cure rate. It turns out that the percentage of eye complaints that precedes the systemic symptoms of a person infected with COVID-19 is quite high.

That is what makes RSDC-19 conduct research on early detection of COVID-19 through observation and eye swab tests. The hypothesis of this study is that the Corona virus (SARS CoV-2) also spreads to the eyes, this happens because the eyes and nasal cavity are connected through a channel.

That is why, according to him, when people cry, their noses are also wet, and in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are prohibited from rubbing their eyes with their hands because eyes are one of the entry points for the Corona virus into the human body.

On Saturday afternoon, December 19, Maj. Gen. TNI Duty Ratmono visited the RSDC Research Unit with other RSDC-19 officials. They discussed with Dr. Rina La Distia Nora SpM (K) PhD as the main researcher of RSDC-19 Wisma Atlet Kemayoran and a number of other researchers, dr Rina Dwi Ningtias Mei Riasanti and dr Gladya Utami.

The topic of discussion was about the potential for eye detection of COVID-19. Doctor Rina La Distia Nora has taken concrete steps with a study entitled The Potential for Early Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Infection from Conjunctival Sample Swabs Through RT-PCR Examination.

The conjunctiva is a clear membrane that covers the entire front part of the eye and provides protection for the eye. Then, it is hoped that such research can be carried out by simply opening the lower eyelid so that the swab stick can touch the conjunctival membrane of the eye.

The swab sample will then be examined via RT-PCR (reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) as well as a nose and throat swab.

Screening (screening) or testing in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the keys to preventing the spread of COVID-19. In this way, people infected with COVID-19 can undergo treatment or independent isolation as soon as possible to break the chain of COVID-19.

Major General Tasks fully supports Dr. Rina's research so that it can be applied to the process of checking COVID-19 infection.

"This research is very important to explore science, not only about COVID-19, but strategic steps forward in overcoming health threats," said Major General.

The Head of the RSDC Secretariat Wisma Atlet Kemayoran, Dr. RM Tjahja Nurrobi, also provided support for the observation and eye swab.

He stated that as a hospital that treats the most number of COVID-19 patients in Indonesia, RSDC Wisma Atlet Kemayoran is the source of data for various studies on COVID-19.

"Now there are 70 researches on handling, prevention and management of COVID-19 countermeasures. One of the research being carried out is to identify COVID-19 from an eye examination conducted by Dr. Rina, "said Dr. Nurrobi.