Abstract
Purpose :
With the recent emergence and worldwide distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, many side effects may be underreported and possibly unknown. Cases of vaccine-associated uveitis have been linked to almost all vaccines administered in the past, however, there is scarcity of literature providing insight into post COVID-19 vaccine associated uveitis / episcleritis. By documenting patients presenting with uveitis / episcleritis after the administration of mRNA Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, this case series significantly advances our current understanding of potential COVID-19 vaccine ocular complications.
Methods :
Patients with ocular symptoms consistent with uveitis / episcleritis within 15 days of the administration of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine were included in this study. Ocular assessment included a Snellen best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) converted to logMAR, intraocular pressure (IOP) with Goldmann Applanation Tonometry, pupil check, anterior and dilated posterior segment assessment with slit-lamp, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. Patients were anonymized and demographics including sex, race, age, and other necessary clinical data were recorded.
Results :
A total of 9 patients (6 female and 3 males) with a mean age of 42.9 (range, 19-83) were included. 7 patients received a Pfizer vaccine and 2 received a Moderna vaccine. 5 patients presented with symptoms after their first dose, 2 after their second dose, and 1 after both doses. The mean time of ocular symptoms post vaccine was 6.15 days (range, 1-14) and the mean BCVA was 0.657.
Patients were diagnosed with bilateral anterior granulomatous uveitis (case 1), unilateral nongranulomatous anterior uveitis (case 2, 6-9), bilateral nongranulomatous anterior uveitis (case 3-4), and episcleritis (case 5). Case 1 and 9 have been highlighted and summarized in figure 1 and 2, respectively.
Conclusions :
The pathogenesis of vaccine induced uveitis is not properly understood, however, the outcomes of this case series aids in establishing a temporal association between the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines and the onset of uveitis / episcleritis. As the rate of COVID-19 vaccinations increase globally, it is imperative for physicians to be aware of the possible association and presentation of these ocular findings and diagnoses to effectively treat patients.
This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.