The Zika virus could be present in the eyes and in the tears. Scientists which include a native Indian discovered and found evidences of virus in the eyes and tears of mice. This theory concerning the Zika virus raises the concern about the spread of the virus through tears.
The Zika virus can form mild diseases to adults but it could be lethal to fetuses. In addition, the infection could cause brain damage to fetuses, according to the report of Futurity.
One-third of fetuses in utero having the Zika virus infection manifests eye diseases which includes retinal damage, inflammation and infection of the optic nerve and blindness which appears after the birth of the infant.
For adults, the Zika virus could aid in forming conjunctivitis, an infection causing itchiness and redness of the eyes. In severe rare instances, uveitis manifests. Uveitis is an inflammation of the uvea, which is the middle layer of the eye wall.
Researchers conducted tests by applying and causing the Zika virus infection from beneath the skin, just as human are infected through the bite of mosquitoes. Seven days after, live viral infection was found in the eyes of the mice. The supposition and conclusion proves that the Zika virus infection can be transmitted to the eyes.
What is not clear is whether the Zika virus infection makes a tour by passing through the blood-retina barrier which is something that divides the bloodstream from the eyes, taking a trip through the optic nerve which is connecting the eye and the brain or along the other path.
Professor Michael S. Diamond of Washington University School of Medicine expressed that their study is suggesting that the human's eye could be a reservoir of the Zika virus infection.
Diamond added that people should consider if the Zika virus carriers have the Zika virus infection in their eyes and what is the length of time it really persists.
During the tests, 28 days following the infection, the researchers were able to discover that the tears of the mice carrying the Zika virus contained the RNA of Zika which is the genetic substance of the Zika virus, however not the infectious virus, The Economic Times reported.
The infection in the eye raises and strengthens the probability that tears from an infected individual could transmit the Zika virus to other people.