Retinal Changes After COVID-19 Infection and COVID-19 Vaccination

Abstract

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease was first reported in 2019 and was initially associated with respiratory pathology. With the improvement of knowledge about this disease, it was noticed that, among other symptoms, some patients presented visual acuity changes associated with retinal vascular changes, mainly associated with thrombotic phenomena. Later, with the development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 disease, cases of visual acuity alterations secondary to thrombotic phenomena were also reported.

Case Presentation

In this article, a series of clinical cases with retinal vascular alterations after COVID-19 infection and vaccination are described.

Conclusion

COVID-19 infection and vaccination increase the risk of retinal vascular events. The purpose of this article is to present a set of clinical cases with various manifestations of vascular changes in the retina associated with COVID-19 infection and COVID-19 vaccination observed in the Department of Ophthalmology of Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António, in Porto, Portugal.

Keywords:

• COVID-19 infection
• COVID-19 vaccination
• retinal vascular events

Abbreviations

COVID-19, Coronavirus Disease 2019; SARS-CoV-2, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2; PAMM, Paracentral Acute Middle Maculopathy; SD-OCT, Spectral Domain, Optical Coherence Tomography; FAF, Fundus Autofluorescence; FA, Fluorescein Angiography; OCT-A, Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography; BCVA, Best Corrected Visual Acuity.

Data Sharing Statement

The clinical data that support the findings of this clinical case are available in the electronic hospital register of CHUPorto. All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article. Further enquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Statement of Ethics

The study was conducted under the tenets of the National Council of Ethics for the Life Sciences and the Declaration of Helsinki and its latest amendment (Brazil, 2013). Ethical approval is not required for this study in accordance with the local IRB (“Departamento de Ensino, Formação e Investigação” of Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António). The patient’s informed consent was obtained during the assessment visits.

Consent for Publication

Written informed consent was obtained from the patients for publication of this case report and any accompanying images.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received for this study.