Ophthalmologic Alterations in Patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: Ophthalmologic alterations associated with SARS-CoV-2 can be classified as direct effects of the virus, by immunologic reaction or by vaccination.

Objective: To describe the ophthalmologic alterations in patients with COVID-19.

Methods: A series of cases with clinical and serologic diagnosis of COVID-19 during the course of the disease, after the disease or after vaccination is presented. Seven cases were studied (4 women and 3 men), who consecutively attended the Neurophthalmology Consultation of the "Hermanos Ameijeiras" Hospital (HHA), referred by specialists who evaluate the "Post-COVID-19" case protocol in this institution with the following alterations: neuroretinitis (NR), papillitis (P), uveitis and papillitis (U-P), epiretinal membrane (MER) and peripheral facial palsy (PFP), in the period from August to November 2021.

Results: The average age was 44 years. NR, P and unilateral MER predominated in the series studied. Immunologic etiology was the most frequent. The symptoms and signs referred by the patients were visual impairment and color vision deficit. Therapeutic results were not satisfactory in cases 1 and 6, with a prolonged evolution time, from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis and treatment with steroids and B-complex vitamins.

Conclusions: There is an association between the ophthalmologic diseases found in young patients with a history of suffering from COVID-19 or related to vaccination. Therapeutic effectiveness was conditioned by the time of evolution of the disease.