Optic neuritis post-COVID-19 infection. A case report with meta-analysis

Clinical features of COVID-19-related optic neuritis: a retrospective study

Objective

This retrospective study aimed to investigate the clinical features of optic neuritis associated with COVID-19 (COVID-19 ON), comparing them with neuromyelitis optica-associated optic neuritis (NMO-ON), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-associated optic neuritis (MOG-ON), and antibody-negative optic neuritis (antibody-negative ON).

Methods

Data from 117 patients (145 eyes) with optic neuritis at the Shantou International Eye Center (March 2020-June 2023) were categorized into four groups based on etiology: Group 1 (neuromyelitis optica-related optic neuritis, NMO-ON), Group 2 (myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein optic neuritis, MOG-ON), Group 3 (antibody-negative optic neuritis, antibody-negative ON), and Group 4 (optic neuritis associated with COVID-19, COVID-19 ON). Characteristics of T2 and enhancement in orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were assessed. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was compared before treatment, at a short-term follow-up (14 days), and at the last follow-up after treatment.

Results

The COVID-19-associated optic neuritis (COVID-19 ON) group exhibited 100% bilateral involvement, significantly surpassing other groups (P < 0.001). Optic disk edema was observed in 100% of COVID-19 ON cases, markedly differing from neuromyelitis optica-related optic neuritis (NMO-ON) (P = 0.023). Orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed distinctive long-segment lesions without intracranial involvement in T1-enhanced sequences for the COVID-19 ON group compared to the other three groups (P < 0.001). Discrepancies in optic nerve sheath involvement were noted between the COVID-19 ON group and both NMO-ON and antibody-negative optic neuritis (antibody-negative ON) groups (P = 0.028). Before treatment, no significant difference in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) existed between the COVID-19 ON group and other groups. At the 14-day follow-up, BCVA in the COVID-19 ON group outperformed the NMO-ON (P < 0.001) and antibody-negative ON (P = 0.028) groups, with no significant difference observed compared to the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein optic neuritis (MOG-ON) group. At the last follow-up after treatment, BCVA in the COVID-19 ON group significantly differed from the NMO-ON group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Optic neuritis associated with COVID-19 (COVID-19 ON) predominantly presents with bilateral onset and optic disk edema. Orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrates that COVID-19 ON presents as long-segment enhancement without the involvement of the intracranial segment of the optic nerve in T1-enhanced images. Glucocorticoid therapy showed positive outcomes.

The Risk of Optic Neuritis following mRNA Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination Compared to Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection and Other Vaccinations

PURPOSE

To determine the risk of optic neuritis (ON) after mRNA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine administration.

DESIGN

U.S. National aggregate database retrospective cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients were placed into cohorts based on mRNA COVID-19 vaccination status (no vaccine and positive history of COVID-19 infection, 1 vaccine, or 2 vaccines received) from December 2020 to June 2022. Two control cohorts were created with patients vaccinated against influenza or tetanus diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) from June 2018 to December 2019. Patients with any history of ON or significant risk factors for ON development including infectious, inflammatory, and neoplastic diseases were excluded.

METHODS

A large deidentified database was queried for the Common Procedural Technology codes for immunization encounters specific to first dose and second dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, influenza, or Tdap. Cohorts were 1:1 propensity score matched on age, sex, race, and ethnicity. The risk of ON development after vaccination was calculated and compared for all 5 cohorts with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) reported.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Risk ratio (RR) of ON 21 days after vaccination (or COVID-19 infection) and incidence of ON per 100 000 individuals.

RESULTS

After matching, the first dose COVID-19 and influenza vaccine cohorts (n = 1 678 598, mean age [standard deviation] at vaccination of 45.5 [23.3] years and 43.2 [25.5] years, 55% female) the RR of developing ON was 0.44 (95% CI, 0.28-0.80). The first dose of COVID-19 and Tdap vaccinations (n = 797 538, mean age 38.9 [20.0] years, 54.2% female) cohort had 10 and 16 patients develop ON (RR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.28-1.38). Comparison of COVID-19-vaccinated patients (n = 3 698 848, 48.2 [21.5] years, 54.7% female) to unvaccinated and COVID-19-infected patients (n = 3 698 848, 49.6 [22.0] years, 55.2% female) showed 49 and 506 patients developing ON, respectively (RR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.07-0.12). The incidence per 100 000 for ON was 1 in the first dose COVID-19 vaccine cohort, 2 in the influenza cohort, and 2 in the Tdap cohort, and 14 in the COVID-19-infected and unvaccinated cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk of ON after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination is rare and comparable to Tdap vaccination, decreased compared with influenza vaccination, and decreased compared with COVID-19 infection in the absence of vaccination.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)

Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Systematic review exploring the clinical features of optic neuritis after SARS-CoV infection and vaccination

BACKGROUND

This study aims to characterise the symptoms and clinical features of optic neuritis (ON) following SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination.

METHOD

A literature search was conducted in four databases (PubMed, Medline, Embase and Google Scholar) to identify relevant case reports and case series. The records were screened and articles adhering to the inclusion criteria were critically appraised.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight studies were found to be eligible for inclusion, including 34 reporting ON following SARS-CoV-2 infection and an equal number reporting cases postvaccination. In total 93 patients and 125 eyes were included. The infection cohort included 42 patients and 56 eyes, 51.2% were female and 33.3% experienced bilateral ON. The mean visual acuity was 1.64 log of minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR), while pain was present in 77.8%. Oligoclonal bands were present in 3 patients, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies in 18 patients and AQP-4 antibodies in 4 patients. The vaccination cohort included 51 patients and 69 eyes. 60.8% were female and 35.3% had a bilateral ON. The mean visual acuity was 0.93 LogMAR. Oligoclonal bands were present in 46.7%, MOG antibodies in nine patients and AQP-4 antibodies in three patients.

CONCLUSION

Patients with ON post-SARS-CoV infection were more likely to experience severe visual impairment than in cases following vaccination. Further research is required to outline the clinical features of ON after COVID-19 infection and vaccination, and establish causality.

SARS-CoV-2 Parainfectious Optic Neuropathy: 3 Case Reports and a Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

Parainfectious optic neuritis is an inflammatory reaction that occurs shortly after an infection without direct invasion by a pathogen. The clinical profile depends on the infectious organism. Cases of SARS-CoV-2 parainfectious optic neuritis have been reported in the literature, but there are no reviews that have applied strict inclusion criteria to more definitively establish the clinical profile associated with SARS-CoV-2.

METHODS

We present 3 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 parainfectious optic neuritis. We also review the literature for definite cases by selecting only those with unambiguous clinical features and MRI findings of optic neuritis, positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction or serology, and the absence of myelin oligodendrocyte-glycoprotein or aquaporin-4 antibodies or other diseases associated with optic neuritis.

RESULTS

We report 2 cases of monophasic, unilateral SARS-CoV-2 parainfectious optic neuritis with optic disc edema and nadir visual acuities of finger counting. We report 1 case of mild SARS-CoV-2 parainfectious optic neuritis that featured cotton wool spots, peripapillary wrinkles and hemorrhages, and recurrence after an initial steroid taper. We identified 6 cases of unambiguous SARS-CoV-2 parainfectious optic neuritis from the literature. Combining our case series with the case reports in the literature, the average age was 42.8 years, 3/9 had bilateral disease, 6/8 had optic disc edema, 8/9 had nadir visual acuity of finger counting or worse, and all recovered visual acuity to 20/40 or better after therapy with steroids.

CONCLUSIONS

SARS-CoV-2 parainfectious optic neuritis has a clinical profile that is atypical for idiopathic optic neuritis but fairly typical of parainfectious forms of optic neuritis with a severely reduced nadir visual acuity, high likelihood of bilaterality, high incidence of optic disc edema, and prompt and significant response to corticosteroids. Further study with long-term follow-up and epidemiologic investigation will be needed to further characterize this clinical entity.

Acute Optic Neuritis: An Update on Approach and Management

This review discusses the physical examination and diagnostic tests necessary to diagnose optic neuritis (ON) and provides an update on the approach and management of acute ON. A comprehensive search of the PubMed database was conducted, limited to English-language journals and recent publications. A total of 160 articles were initially screened by title, of which 73 articles were included in the narrative synthesis. ON is an inflammation of the optic nerve that can be caused by different systemic and neurological disorders. It is commonly presented as a subacute unilateral painful vision loss, and based on its clinical manifestation, it can be classified as typical or atypical. Atypical ON is bilateral with visual acuity of worse than 20/200 or has an atypical demographic presentation for demyelination, such as a non-Caucasian male with optic disc swelling, for which neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), or other etiologies should be considered. Steroids and immunosuppressants are the main treatment options for ON, and timely treatment initiation is critical to preventing irreversible vision loss, especially in atypical cases.

Natural History of Untreated Optic Neuritis Associated With Mild COVID-19 Infection

This article describes a case of untreated optic neuritis occurring in the setting of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and provides new insights into the natural history of this condition. A 29-year-old male patient with no known ocular or systemic disease presented with pain on extraocular movements and sudden loss of vision in the inferior visual field affecting the right eye. He had tested positive for COVID-19 six days prior after experiencing mild upper respiratory symptoms. On examination, visual acuity was 20/20, and color vision was normal. A relative afferent pupillary defect was observed in the right eye. Fundoscopy revealed mild optic disc edema in the same eye. Optical coherence tomography showed increased retinal nerve fiber layer thickness of the right optic nerve head and visual field testing revealed an inferonasal defect. Extensive laboratory and imaging investigations failed to reveal an underlying etiology, supporting a diagnosis of COVID-19-associated optic neuritis. The patient improved spontaneously without treatment. At the five-month follow-up, minor optic atrophy and a small residual visual field defect remained.

Neuro-Ophthalmic Visual Impairment in the Setting of COVID-19

We set out to describe in detail the afferent neuro-ophthalmological complications that have been reported in association with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. We describe and elaborate on mechanisms of disease, including para-infectious inflammation, hypercoagulability, endothelial damage, and direct neurotropic viral invasion. Despite global vaccination programs, new variants of COVID-19 continue to pose an international threat, and patients with rare neuro-ophthalmic complications are likely to continue to present for care.Afferent complications from COVID-19 include homonymous visual field loss, with or without higher cortical visual syndromes, resulting from stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, or posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy. Optic neuritis has frequently been reported, sometimes along with acute disseminated encephalomyelopathy, often in association with either myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies (MOG-IgG) or less commonly aquaporin-4 seropositivity or in newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis. Ischemic optic neuropathy has rarely been reported. Papilledema, resulting either from venous sinus thrombosis or idiopathic intracranial hypertension in the setting of COVID-19, has also been described.Observed afferent neuro-ophthalmic associations need to be confirmed though larger comparative studies. Meanwhile, the range of possible complications should be recognized by neurologists and ophthalmologists alike, to facilitate faster diagnosis and treatment of both COVID-19 and its neuro-ophthalmic manifestations.

Ophthalmic Presentations and Manifestations of COVID-19: A Systematic Review of Global Observations

As the presentations and complications of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continue to surface, the ocular manifestations have emerged as an area of interest. Research and reports conveyed the presence of several ophthalmic conditions observed in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. These publications documented a range of presentations varying from asymptomatic to serious impairments. The aim of this study is to characterize the ophthalmic pathologies and their frequencies observed due to COVID-19 in patients across different regions of the world. The goal is that the paper assists primary care physicians and healthcare providers. A systematic review of 31 articles published between January 1, 2021 to January 13, 2022, explored the presenting ocular symptoms of COVID-19, diagnosis, duration of ophthalmic complications, as well as pre-existing comorbidities. A total of 816 patients, 427 (52.3%) males and 389 (47.7%) females, from various regions of the world were investigated. Studies focusing on patients with a history of ocular pathologies, non-COVID-19 infections, complications associated with the COVID-19 vaccine, and pediatric patients were excluded from this study. Ocular complications were most commonly reported one to two weeks following the initial COVID-19 diagnosis. Analysis suggests that the "red" eye is the most prevalent presenting ophthalmologic symptom, followed by temporary vision loss. Conjunctivitis was also the most common clinical diagnosis reported, followed by neuro-retinal affection in the form of cotton wool spots (n=127 and n=9, respectively). This study summarizes ocular manifestations in COVID-19 patients and serves to help healthcare providers recognize common symptoms and their severity. This may lead to early diagnosis, treatment, and intervention of these manifestations.

Reduced Vessel Density and Enlarged Foveal Avascular Zone in the Macula as a Result of Systemic Hypoxia Caused by SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Infection with SARS-CoV-2 can lead to various long-term consequences, including those of an ophthalmic nature. This paper reviews the results of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) performed among COVID-19 patients. The review included papers evaluating short- and long-term outcomes following the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Some differentiated the obtained retinal and choroidal vascularization parameters according to gender. Following COVID-19, patients reveal changes in retinal and choroidal vascular parameters based on OCTA, such as reduced vascular density and an increased foveal avascular zone, which can persist for several months. Routine ophthalmic follow-up with OCTA should be considered in patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection to assess the effects of inflammation and systemic hypoxia in COVID-19. Further research is needed to understand whether infection with particular viral variants/subvariants may vary in the risk of effects on retinal and choroidal vascularization and whether and to what extent these risks may also differ in relation to reinfected and vaccinated individuals.

Ocular Symptoms Associated with COVID-19 Are Correlated with the Expression Profile of Mouse SARS-CoV-2 Binding Sites

The COVID-19 pandemic has engendered significant scientific efforts in the understanding of its infectious agent SARS-CoV-2 and of its associated symptoms. A peculiar characteristic of this virus lies in its ability to challenge our senses, as its infection can lead to anosmia and ageusia. While ocular symptoms, such as conjunctivitis, optic neuritis or dry eyes, are also reported after viral infection, they have lower frequencies and severities, and their functional development is still elusive. Here, using combined technical approaches based on histological and gene profiling methods, we characterized the expression of SARS-CoV-2 binding sites (Ace2/Tmprss2) in the mouse eye. We found that ACE2 was ectopically expressed in subtissular ocular regions, such as in the optic nerve and in the Harderian/intraorbital lacrimal glands. Moreover, we observed an important variation of Ace2/Tmprss2 expression that is not only dependent on the age and sex of the animal, but also highly heterogenous between individuals. Our results thus give new insight into the expression of SARS-CoV-2 binding sites in the mouse eye and propose an interpretation of the human ocular-associated symptoms linked to SARS-CoV-2.

Cognitive Deficits in the Acute Phase of COVID-19: A Review and Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis was conducted to quantify the risk of patients exhibiting cognitive deficits in the acute phase of COVID-19 at the time of the first variants (i.e., before the vaccine) and quantify the potential vulnerability of older patients and those who experienced more severe respiratory symptoms. To this end, we searched the LitCovid and EMBASE platforms for articles, including preprints, and included all studies (n = 48) that featured a measurement of cognition, which encompassed 2233 cases of COVID-19. Of these, 28 studies reported scores on global cognitive efficiency scales administered in the acute phase of COVID-19 (up to 3 months after infection). We were able to perform a meta-analysis of proportions on 24 articles (N_patients = 943), and a logistic regression on 18 articles (N_patients = 518). The meta-analysis for proportion indicated that 52.31% of patients with COVID-19 exhibited cognitive deficits in the acute phase. This high percentage, however, has to be interpreted taking in consideration the fact that the majority of patients were hospitalized, and some presented neurological complications, such as encephalopathy. A bootstrap procedure with random resampling revealed that an age of 59 was the threshold at which one would be more prone to present cognitive deficits. However, the severity of respiratory symptoms did not influence the scores on a global cognitive efficiency scale. Overall, our results indicated that neuropsychological deficits were a major consequence of the acute phase of the first forms of COVID-19.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) following COVID-19 vaccines: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

The global COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2019, and given the number of casualties and adverse effects on the economy, society, and all aspects of the health system, efforts have been made to develop vaccines from the beginning of the pandemic. Numerous vaccines against COVID-19 infection have been developed in several technologies and have spread rapidly. There have been reported multiple complications of the COVID-19 vaccines as with other vaccines. A number of studies have reported multiple sclerosis (MS ) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) as complications of COVID-19 vaccines.

METHODS

First, we found 954 studies from 4 databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science) from inception to March 1^st, 2022. Next, duplicate articles were eliminated, and 476 studies remained. Then 412 studies were removed according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. After obtaining the full text of 64 articles, 12 studies were selected finally.

RESULTS

The data were extracted from included studies in a table. Our data includes demographic data, comorbidities, vaccines information and side effects, NMOSD and MS symptoms, laboratory and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results, treatment, and outcome of all cases.

CONCLUSION

MS and NMOSD are two neuroinflammatory disorders that arise in the CNS. Cases of MS and NMOSD have been reported following COVID-19 vaccination. Nevertheless, more studies with more subjects are needed to assess any possible relationship between the COVID-19 vaccine and central nervous system demyelination.

Optic Neuritis following Second Administration of COVID-19 Vaccine: A Case Report

A 28-year-old woman presented to eye casualty with signs and symptoms suggestive of optic neuritis following a recent COVID-19 vaccination (the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine). The best corrected visual acuity was 6/15 in the right eye and 6/6 in the left eye with a relative afferent pupillary defect in the right eye. Following examination and investigation, she was found to fit the McDonald criteria for multiple sclerosis and was commenced on disease-modifying therapy. Demyelinating events have been identified to occur following COVID-19 vaccinations. In this case, we have found that the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine could have contributed to the development of optic neuritis following a second dose of the vaccine.

Central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory demyelinating diseases (IDDs) associated with COVID-19: A case series and review

BACKGROUND

Over the past two years, SARS-CoV-2 has frequently been documented with various post and para-infectious complications, including cerebrovascular, neuromuscular, and some demyelinating conditions such as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). We report two rare neurological manifestations post-COVID-19 infection; multiple sclerosis (MS) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). Further, we reviewed other CNS inflammatory demyelinating diseases (IDDs) associated with SARS-CoV-2, including optic neuritis (ON) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD).

METHODS

A descriptive analysis and literature search of Google Scholar and PubMed was conducted by two independent reviewers from December 1st, 2019, to March 30th, 2022, and included all the case studies of MS, MOGAD, NMOSD, and ON associated with COVID-19 infection.

CASE PRESENTATIONS

Case 1 (MS) was a 24-year-old female with paresthesia and bilateral weakness one week after COVID-19 symptom onset who showed demyelinating plaques and 12 isolated oligoclonal bands (OCBs). Case 2 (MOGAD) was a 41-year-old male with encephalomyelitis 16 days after COVID-19, who later developed MOG-antibody-associated optic neuritis.

RESULTS

Out of 18 cases, NMOSD was the most common post-COVID manifestation (7, 39%), followed by MOGAD (5, 28%), MS (4, 22%), and isolated ON (2, 11%). The median duration between the onset of COVID-19 symptom onset and neurological symptoms was 14 days. 61% of these were male, with a mean age of 35 years. IVMP was the treatment of choice, and nearly all patients made a full recovery, with zero fatalities.

CONCLUSIONS

Although these neurological sequelae are few, physicians must be cognizant of their underlying pathophysiology and associated clinical and neuro-diagnostic findings when treating COVID-19 patients with atypical presentations.

Optic nerve sheath diameter is associated with outcome in severe Covid-19

Neurological symptoms are common in Covid-19 and cerebral edema has been shown post-mortem. The mechanism behind this is unclear. Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) has not been extensively studied in Covid-19. ICP can be estimated noninvasively with measurements of the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD). We performed a cohort study with ONSD ultrasound measurements in severe cases of Covid-19 at an intensive care unit (ICU). We measured ONSD with ultrasound in adults with severe Covid-19 in the ICU at Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden. Patients were classified as either having normal or elevated ONSD. We compared ICU length of stay (ICU-LOS) and 90 day mortality between the groups. 54 patients were included. 11 of these (20.4%) had elevated ONSD. Patients with elevated ONSD had 12 days longer ICU-LOS (95% CI 2 to 23 p = 0.03) and a risk ratio of 2.3 for ICU-LOS ≥ 30 days. There were no significant differences in baseline data or 90 day mortality between the groups. Elevated ONSD is common in severe Covid-19 and is associated with adverse outcome. This may be caused by elevated ICP. This is a clinically important finding that needs to be considered when deciding upon various treatment strategies.

Update on overview of ocular manifestations of COVID-19

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become the most critical health crisis at present, and research is continued about the exact pathophysiology, presentations, and complications of this pandemic. It influences several organs, and many studies have addressed the organs, the involvement of which during the COVID-19 results in patients' death. One of the important organs that can be involved during COVID-19, which is also a transmission route of the disease, is the eye. According to the evidence, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can have ocular manifestations and complications. According to the literature, conjunctivitis is the most common presentation, which can develop at any stage of COVID-19 (during and even after the disease), and the major pathophysiology of the eye involvement during the disease is attributed to the direct effect of the virus on the eyes, tissue damage caused by inflammation, underlying diseases, and the adverse effect of the medications prescribed. There are also reports of life-threatening complications, such as rhino-orbital cerebral mucormycosis, which require urgent treatment and are associated with a great mortality rate. Ocular manifestations may also be the presentation of a life-threatening event, such as stroke; therefore, it is necessary to pay great attention to the ocular manifestations during COVID-19. In this review, after about 2 years of the pandemic started, we present a narrative review on ocular manifestations during COVID-19, categorized into three main categories; ophthalmic, orbital, and neuro-ophthalmological manifestations with a detailed description of the presenting symptoms, risk factor, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies suggested for each.

Optic neuritis secondary to the Pfizer-BioNTech-162b2 COVID-19 vaccine managed with plasmapheresis: A case report and review

The COVID‑19 pandemic has had a significant public health impact globally, with inoculation now paramount in limiting the spread of the disease. Although the safety and efficacy profiles of COVID‑19 vaccines are well documented, it is upon the medical community to be aware of adverse effects to appropriately advise and treat patients. We report the case of a 39‑year‑old female who was hospitalized with optic neuritis (ON) 1 week after her second dose of the Pfizer‑BioNTech (BNT162b2) COVID‑19 vaccine. The patient did not have any significant medical history, including personal or familial history of multiple sclerosis or any other demyelinating disease, other than prior COVID‑19 infection. She had since made a full recovery and tested negative at the time of hospitalization for ON. Over the course of her admission, the patient's visual acuity (VA) deteriorated from 20/400 to no light perception. After methylprednisolone was ineffective, she was started on plasmapheresis (PLEX) therapy which resulted in mild improvement of VA. To our knowledge and after a thorough PubMed literature search, this is the first reported case of isolated ON associated with COVID‑19 vaccination.

Imaging of the head and neck during the COVID19 pandemic

There is a wide spectrum of clinical manifestation of COVID-19 in the head and neck, but often these do not have an imaging correlate. This review will highlight the most common imaging features of COVID-19 in the head and neck that can be seen on routine head and neck CT and MRI. In addition, situations where a more dedicated imaging protocol is required will be highlighted. Finally, as mass vaccination efforts are underway worldwide, post vaccination imaging can often complicate cancer surveillance imaging. Post vaccination imaging features and recommendations will be discussed.

Podcast on B Cell-Targeting Therapies and Other Multiple Sclerosis Concerns During COVID-19

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to raise questions for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their healthcare providers. Common questions have included whether people living with MS are at higher risk of COVID-19 or of severe disease, whether certain disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for MS heighten COVID-19 risk, and if/how COVID-19 vaccinations should be administered in relation to MS treatments. Anti-CD20 therapies, which target B cells, have been of particular interest given the role B cells play in the response to both the virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) and vaccines. As more data surfaces and the pandemic evolves, additional questions have emerged regarding the administration of booster shots and differences between B cell-targeting therapies and other DMTs in terms of their immunomodulatory effects. In this podcast article, MS specialists discuss these challenges to MS care during the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent data which are currently informing their clinical decision-making. As the pandemic evolves, providers should continually partner with people living with MS to achieve MS treatment goals informed by the latest developments in COVID-19. Video: Podcast Video (MP4 388175 KB).

Coronavirus Disease 2019, Eye Pain, Headache, and Beyond

BACKGROUND

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), emerged in December 2019 and became a devastating pandemic. Although its respiratory effects can be deadly and debilitating, it can lead to other systemic disorders, such as those causing eye pain and headache. This literature review aims to describe presentations of eye pain and headache in relation to COVID-19, with an emphasis on how these disorders help us to understand the pathophysiology of COVID-19.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Literature was mined from the PubMed database using the key terms: "eye pain," "conjunctivitis," "episcleritis," "optic neuritis," "migraine," and "headache" in conjunction with "COVID-19" and "SARS-CoV-2." With the exception of general background pathology, articles that predated 2006 were excluded. Case reports, literature reviews, and meta-analyses were all included. Where SARS-CoV-2 research was deficient, pathology of other known viruses was considered. Reports of ocular manifestations of vision loss in the absence of eye pain were excluded. The primary search was conducted in June 2021.

RESULTS

The literature search led to a focused review of COVID-19 associated with conjunctivitis, episcleritis, scleritis, optic neuritis, and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-associated optic neuritis. Four distinct COVID-19-related headache phenotypes were identified and discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

Eye pain in the setting of COVID-19 presents as conjunctivitis, episcleritis, scleritis, or optic neuritis. These presentations add to a more complete picture of SARS-CoV-2 viral transmission and mechanism of host infection. Furthermore, eye pain during COVID-19 may provide evidence of hypersensitivity-type reactions, neurovirulence, and incitement of either novel or subclinical autoimmune processes. In addition, investigation of headaches associated with COVID-19 demonstrated 4 distinct phenotypes that follow third edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders categories: headaches associated with personal protective equipment, migraine, tension-type headaches, and COVID-19-specific headache. Early identification of headache class could assist in predicting the clinical course of disease. Finally, investigation into the COVID-19-associated headache phenotype of those with a history of migraine may have broader implications, adding to a more general understanding of migraine pathology.

Optic neuropathies post-Covid 19 - review

The Corona virus infection started at the end of 2019 in Wuhan - China and spread rapidly throughout the world, generating the Covid 19 pandemic. The manifestations of the Covid disease were extremely varied, from a simple flu, with fever, cough, weakness, headache, joint pain, up to severe pneumonia, with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-Cov2) and even death. The symptomatology of the disease, the evolution and the complications that appeared varied, depending on the associated pathology - diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HT), the age and the immune status of the patient. Aim: The ocular manifestations related to Covid 19 were mostly represented by conjunctivitis, but the neurotropic character of Corona virus could justify the appearance of certain neuro-ophthalmological manifestations, such as: optic neuritis (ON), cranial nerve palsies, visual field (VF) anomalies. The aim of this paper was to research the cases of optic neuropathy post-Covid 19, published in the specialty literature between 2020 and 2022. The following were evaluated: risk factors, distribution by age group and gender, evolution and complications, as well as the clinical forms of optic neuropathies. Materials and methods: We used Google Scholar and PubMed databases to find articles on optic neuropathies related to the Covid-19 infection. We followed the articles published during the pandemic and selected 21 cases, belonging to 17 authors, irrespective of their origin and the language in which they were written. Results: 21 patients affected by ON in the Covid-19 disease, 11 women and 10 men, were mentioned. The optic neuropathies described by the authors were: retrobulbar optic neuropathy, only one associated with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), papillitis, neuroretinitis, anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION), out of which one arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AAION) and the others non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAAION), one being related to pronation in an oro-tracheal intubated (OTI) patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Discussions: The neuro-ophthalmological complications associated with Covid 19 disease can be severe, so the patients should be monitored continuously. Many investigations (serological, immunological and imaging exams) are necessary to exclude other etiologies of ON. Conclusions: A complete ophthalmological exam is mandatory for each patient diagnosed with Covid 19 disease, even if they have ocular manifestations or not. Abbreviations: SARS-Cov2 = severe acute respiratory syndrome; DM = Diabetes mellitus; HT = Hypertension; ON = Optic neuritis; VF = Visual field ; NS = Nervous system; CRP = C-reactive Protein; CL = cytokines; IL = interleukins; TNFɑ = tumor necrosis factor; CNS = central nervous system; ACE = angiotensin-converting enzyme; CRVO = central retinal vein occlusion; MOG = myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein; MOG-AD = myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease; BBB = blood-brain barrier; ARDS = acute respiratory distress syndrome; IOP = intraocular pressure; CVP = central venous pressure; MSOF = multiple systems organ failure; AAION = arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy; NAION = non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy; AION = anterior ischemic optic neuropathy; OCT = optical coherence tomography; CT = computer tomography; AFG = angiofluorography; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging; ESR = erythrocyte sedimentation rate; RF = rheumatoid factor; ANA = antinuclear antibodies; ANCA = antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies; AQP4 = anti aquaporin 4; NMO = neuromyelitis optica; CSF = cerebrospinal fluid; OTI = oro-tracheal intubated; VA = visual acuity; ONTT = optic neuritis treatment trial; RNFL = retinal nerve fiber layer; ICU = intensive care unit; LE = left eye; RE = right eye; MS = multiple sclerosis; ICH = intracranial hypertension; BCVA = best correction visual acuity; LP = light perception; APD = afferent pupillary defect; BM = biomicroscopy; PDN = prednisone; MTX = methotrexate; MTPN = methylprednisolone; NSAID = non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; CGL = cells ganglion layer; VEP = visual evoked potential; CF = counting fingers.

COVID-19-associated optic neuritis - A case series and review of literature

Neuroophthalmic manifestations are very rare in corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19) infection. Only few reports have been published till date describing COVID-19-associated neuroophthalmic manifestations. We, hereby, present a series of three cases who developed optic neuritis during the recovery period from COVID-19 infection. Among the three patients, demyelinating lesions were identified in two cases, while another case was associated with serum antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. All three patients received intravenous methylprednisolone followed by oral steroids according to the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trail ptotocol. Vision recovery was noted in all three patients, which was maintained at 2 months of the last follow up visit.

Acute bilateral retrobulbar optic neuritis - An atypical sequela of COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) and its ophthalmic manifestations have been variably portrayed. We report a case of a 56-year-old female presenting with sudden-onset vision loss associated with painful extraocular muscle movements in both eyes following COVID-19. Visual acuity was counting fingers close to face. Color perception tested was inaccurate. Ocular examination revealed sluggishly reacting pupils and an otherwise unremarkable fundus picture in both eyes, giving us an impression of bilateral retrobulbar neuritis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and orbit were unremarkable, while blood investigations revealed nothing suggestive. The patient dramatically improved with steroid therapy with full visual recovery and a color vision defect. This presentation of bilateral retrobulbar neuritis as a sequela of COVID-19 is presented for its rarity.