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Ocular posterior segment complications following COVID-19 vaccination

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Abstract

Background

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had a significant impact on healthcare, including eye care, worldwide. Effective and safe vaccines have been developed using both conventional and novel technologies to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection. While vaccination has been shown to be remarkably effective in reducing the spread and associated morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 disease, there have been reports of complications to the posterior segment of the eye.

Methods

We present a case-based analysis of reported complications of COVID-19 vaccination to the posterior segment of the eye. The study aims to highlight the diversity of possible complications and discuss the plausible involved pathophysiologic mechanisms.

Results

The most significant complications reported were retinal macro or microvascular occlusions, uveitis, and central serous chorioretinopathy. These complications are rare but require prompt diagnosis and management to prevent serious visual morbidity.

Conclusions

Our study highlights the need for ophthalmologists to be aware of possible complications related to COVID-19 vaccination and the importance of prompt diagnosis and management. The findings of this study may help ophthalmologists to better understand and manage these rare complications.

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Availability of data and materials

The data supporting this study’s findings are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Funding

The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Poostchi Clinic, Zand Street, Shiraz, 7134997446, Iran

    Elham Sadeghi & M. Hossein Nowroozzadeh

  2. MidAtlantic Retina, The Retina Service of Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Raziyeh Mahmoudzadeh & Sunir J. Garg

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  1. Elham Sadeghi
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  2. Raziyeh Mahmoudzadeh
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  3. Sunir J. Garg
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  4. M. Hossein Nowroozzadeh
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Contributions

Conceptualization; Elham Sadeghi and M. Hossein Nowroozzadeh; Data curation; Raziyeh Mahmoudzadeh and Sunir J. Garg; Formal analysis; Elham Sadeghi and M. Hossein Nowroozzadeh; Investigation; Raziyeh Mahmoudzadeh and Sunir J. Garg; Methodology; Elham Sadeghi and M. Hossein Nowroozzadeh; Project administration; M. Hossein Nowroozzadeh; Resources; Raziyeh Mahmoudzadeh and Sunir J. Garg; Software; Raziyeh Mahmoudzadeh and Sunir J. Garg; Supervision; M. Hossein Nowroozzadeh; Validation; Raziyeh Mahmoudzadeh and Sunir J. Garg; Visualization; Elham Sadeghi and M. Hossein Nowroozzadeh; Writing—original draft; Elham Sadeghi and M. Hossein Nowroozzadeh; Writing—review & editing: Raziyeh Mahmoudzadeh and Sunir J. Garg.

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Correspondence to M. Hossein Nowroozzadeh.

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Sadeghi, E., Mahmoudzadeh, R., Garg, S.J. et al. Ocular posterior segment complications following COVID-19 vaccination. Int Ophthalmol 43, 4343–4357 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-023-02795-y

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