Impact of Treatment Regimen on Ocular Parameters in Patients with COVID-19 Infection during Hospitalization

Abstract

Purpose : Numerous studies have explored the impact of COVID-19 on ocular parameters, yet most of these investigations were carried out post-infection. Our objective was to specifically examine whether the treatment of COVID-19 had any discernible impact on corneal and retinal findings in hospitalized patients.

Methods : The research involved 24 participants (14 males, 10 females) with an average age of 56.12±12.89 years, all hospitalized for COVID-19. Among them, 20 received standard oxygen therapy (1-10L flow), and 4 received high-flow nasal oxygen therapy (HFNOT). Additionally, 5 participants were treated with remdesivir, 5 with convalescent plasma, and 11 with tocilizumab. The mean duration from positive test to study enrollment was 13.23±8.18 days. Intraocular pressure was measured using Tonopen Avia (Reichert Technologies), and Optical Coherence Tomography, including corneal topography, was conducted using the Revo 130 with a topography module (Optopol Technology).

Results : The analysis revealed no statistically significant correlations among age, number of days with positive COVID-19, and oxygen flow for all examined parameters, except for age and RNFL thickness (r=-0.76, p<0.05), number of days with positive COVID-19 and RNFL thickness (r=-0.81, p<0.05), and age and corneal epithelium thickness (r=-0.90, p<0.05).
Corneal pachymetry exhibited no statistically significant correlation with the use of plasma therapy (p=0.65), various oxygen therapy settings (p=0.48), remdesivir therapy (p=0.85), or tocilizumab therapy (p=0.21).

Similarly, the study found no statistically significant correlation between RNFL thickness and the use of tocilizumab therapy (p=0.56), plasma therapy (p=0.49), remdesivir therapy (p=0.49), or different oxygen therapy settings (p=0.39).

Furthermore, there was no statistically significant correlation between the C/D ratio and the use of remdesivir therapy (p=0.98), plasma therapy (p=0.40), tocilizumab therapy (p=0.99), or different oxygen therapy settings (p=0.10).

Finally, the study found no statistically significant correlation between central macular thickness and the use of HFNOT (p=0.21), remdesivir therapy (p=0.23), plasma therapy (p=0.38), or tocilizumab therapy (p=0.15).

Conclusions :
Overall, these results suggest a lack of substantial impact of COVID-19 treatment on the assessed ocular parameters in hospitalized patients.

This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.