New Onset of Unilateral Orbital Myositis following Mild COVID-19 Infection

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The authors present a case of unilateral orbital myositis of new onset following COVID-19 without a severe course.

Methods: The patient had been received topical treatment with a preliminary diagnosis of conjunctivitis but no recovery had been noticed. The history revealed that the ocular signs had started 1 week after the COVID-19.

Results: The examination revealed sectoral hyperemia of the temporal region in the bulbar conjunctiva together with marked limitation of right inward gaze. MRI of the orbits demonstrated diffuse fusiform enhancing enlargement of the right lateral rectus and superior rectus. The results of the laboratory tests and examination findings were normal. Systemic corticosteroids were started for the orbital myositis.

Conclusions: Although conjunctivitis is the more common ocular disease following COVID-19, the possibility of orbital myositis should be considered in cases with resistance to topical treatment and/or gaze limitation. The possible role of orbital myositis as a trigger for COVID-19 could be explained with an immune-mediated mechanism.

KEYWORDS:

• Orbital myositis
• COVID-19
• SARS-CoV-2
• conjunctivitis
• gaze limitation

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

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