A UK doctor has revealed a new symptom linked to the COVID-19 variant Omicron.
When COVID-19 was first discovered, the main signs were high temperature, loss or change to your sense of smell or taste and a cough.
But as new variants of coronavirus are discovered, it comes with new symptoms that people need to be aware of.
Research has indicated Omicron may be more likely to lead to an asymptomatic case of COVID-19 than prior variants.
For those who do have symptoms, a higher proportion experience very mild illness, such as a sore throat or runny nose, without the breathing difficulties typical of earlier infections.
Omicron is running rampant around the world but so far New Zealand has been able to keep the variant in Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ).
The Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday that there are 370 Omicron cases detected at the border since 1 December.
There are still 203 COVID cases at the border that are still undergoing Whole Genome Sequencing with the expectation that the vast majority will be the Omicron variant.
A UK GP has revealed the surprising Omicron symptom that can appear in your eyes is conjunctivitis.
Conjunctivitis is the lining of your inner eyelids and the whites of your eyes (the conjunctiva) are red and swollen.
Conjunctivitis is sometimes called 'sticky eye' or 'pink eye' and can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection, chemical irritation, ultraviolet burn or an allergy according to the Ministry of Health.
"The virus penetrates the body by tricking the receptors for the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE-2) into thinking the virus is the ACE-2 enzyme," Dr Nina Aslam told the UK's Express.
"These receptors are found in different parts of the eye - cells which line the retina, eye white and eyelid."
The symptom was first seen in a positive COVID case on a 29-year-old in March 2020. The woman who had minimal respiratory symptoms but suffered from "a severe case of conjunctivitis" tested positive for coronavirus.
Dr Aslam told the Express that a preliminary study showed Omicron might have a greater capacity to impact the eyes than other variants. The symptom could appear in people who are otherwise asymptomatic.
Dr Aslam said the best way to protect your eyes is by keeping them clean and treating red eye quickly.
"Wipe away any crust from each eye using a separate, clean cotton wool pad dipped in cooled boiled water."
