Unilateral Acute Idiopathic Maculopathy following Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (SARS-CoV-2) Infection

Acute Idiopathic Maculopathy Following SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination

A 49-year-old man presented with acute unilateral blurred vision one week after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. A unilateral serous detachment of the macula, intraretinal hemorrhages, vitritis, and anterior chamber cell was found. Diagnostic testing was negative for infectious and inflammatory causes, and a diagnosis of acute idiopathic maculopathy (AIM) was made. Symptoms and serous detachment resolved over 12 weeks, with residual retinal pigment epithelial changes consistent with the disease course. AIM is a rare diagnosis that presented in close proximity to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination without evidence of coxsackievirus infection. Further research is necessary to clarify an association between this vaccine and uveitis.

Ocular Adverse Events after Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccination in Xiamen

Aims: To report potential vaccine-induced ocular adverse events following inactivated COVID-19 vaccination (Sinopharm and Sinovac). Methods: This case series took place at a tertiary referral center in the southeast of China (Xiamen Eye Center in Fujian Province) from February 2021 to July 2021. Patients who received the first dose of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine and developed vaccine-related ocular adverse events within 10 days were included. The diagnosis of vaccine-related ocular adverse events was guided by the World Health Organization causality assessment and the Naranjo criteria. Results: Ten eyes of seven patients (two male individuals) presenting with ocular complaints following COVID-19 vaccine were included in the study. The mean (SD) age was 41.4 (9.3) years (range, 30–55 years). The mean time of ocular adverse event manifestations was 4.9 days (range, 1–10 days). Three patients were diagnosed with Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada (VKH)-like uveitis, one with multifocal choroiditis, one with episcleritis, one with iritis, and one with acute idiopathic maculopathy. Two patients received the second dose of vaccine. One patient had exacerbation of VKH, and one patient had no symptoms. An aqueous humor analysis in three patients revealed elevated proinflammatory cytokines and negative virus copy. All the patients had transient ocular disturbance and responded well to steroids. No recurrence was noted during 6 months of follow-up. Conclusions: Potential ocular adverse events should be reported to increase the awareness of the health community for timely detection and proper treatment.

Acute idiopathic maculopathy after COVID-19 vaccination

Purpose

We report a case of acute idiopathic maculopathy (AIM) that developed after COVID-19 vaccination.

Observations

A 54-year-old woman complained of a sudden decrease of visual acuity in her right eye one day after receiving a second COVID-19 vaccination (Pfizer). Fundus photograph showed a circular yellow lesion at the fovea in right eye. Optical coherence tomography revealed the thickening of retinal pigment epithelium and the presence of subretinal fluid. Three months after the initial visit, the BCVA and the fundus images had favorable recovery in the right eye.

Conclusions and Importance

We describe a case of AIM after receiving COVID-19 vaccination. These findings may be a helpful in understanding the pathogenesis of AIM.