People are frying their eyeballs using germicidal lamps in a bid to reduce the spread of COVID-19, according to a US report.

Ophthalmologists have published a case series of seven patients who developed photokeratitis from the lamps that employ UV-C (100-280nm) to inactivate viruses, mould and bacteria.

Consumer-grade lamps have been promoted during the pandemic, although their effect on coronavirus is yet to be established, the doctors write.

The patients (average age 40) presented to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami, Florida, between April and July this year with symptoms of ocular irritation, ranging from burning and conjunctival injection (hyperaemia) to marked pain and photophobia.