Abstract
Purpose :
Vaccination is one of the most effective interventions to reduce the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. After widespread vaccination campaigns, case reports on the side effects of vaccines, including ocular manifestations, have emerged. This study aims to evaluate ocular-related side effects after COVID-19 vaccination in a local tertiary general hospital in Ulsan, South Korea.
Methods :
This study was a cross-sectional study, and the subjects were patients who visited Ulsan University Hospital, which is the only tertiary general hospital in Ulsan metropolitan city, from March 2021 to August 2022 with ocular symptoms and signs after COVID-19 vaccination. Types of vaccination were Pfizer (BNT162b2), AZ (ChAdOx1), Moderna (mRNA-1273) and Janssen (Ad26.COV2.S). Clinical and laboratory variables were collected from the clinical data warehouse platform in conjunction with the electronic medical records at Ulsan University Hospital. (Ulsan University Hospital Information of Clinical Ecosystem [uICE]).
Results :
A total of 97 cases of ocular side effects related to vaccination were confirmed (0.004 %). In 21 of these 97 cases, irreversible sequelae remained even after side effects occurred (0.001 %). The frequency of side effects occurred in the order of Pfizer(34 cases, 38.6%), AZ(30 cases, 34.1%), Moderna(20 cases, 22.7%), and Janssen(4 cases, 4.5%). Symptoms mainly occurred within one week after vaccination (5.06 ± 6.86). The most common symptom was visual disturbance (67 cases, 69.1 %), followed by ocular pain (19 cases, 19.6 %) and double vision (16 cases, 16.5 %). The most common diagnoses that caused irreversible sequelae were neurological disease (10 cases), followed by retinal disease (9 cases), and glaucoma (8 cases).
Conclusions :
In the case of the COVID-19 vaccine, unlike other vaccines, it was decided to use it urgently, and there are few known side effects related to the ocular symptom after vaccination. Ocular-related side effects after COVID-19 vaccination are uncommon but should be carefully monitored as they may leave irreversible sequelae.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.