Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Anterior Uveitis following Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination in an Asian Indian Female

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To describe a case of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV 1) infection following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in an Asian Indian female.

Methods

Retrospective case report.

Result

A 40-year-old female presented with decreased vision, pain, and photophobia of 2 weeks duration. She reported receiving the second dose of COVISHIELD^TM (ChAdOx1-S [recombinant]) 1 week prior to the onset of ocular symptoms. Left eye examination revealed granulomatous anterior uveitis. Aqueous sample from the left eye tested positive for HSV1 by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) method. She was managed with oral antiviral therapy, topical steroids, and cycloplegic agent and showed significant improvement of inflammation within 1 week and resolved within 3 weeks.

Conclusion

This report demonstrates a potential association of HSV 1 anterior uveitis with COVID-19 vaccination. A high index of suspicion of viral etiology is warranted when uveitis presents with reduced corneal sensations and pigmented keratic precipitates, following a recent history of COVID-19 vaccination.

KEYWORDS:

• Anterior uveitis
• confocal microscopy
• COVID 19 vaccination
• Herpes simplex virus
• HSV 1

Acknowledgments

Dr. Venkata Ramana Anandula and Mr. Ashok, Microbiologists from Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore, India, for helping us with PCR testing; Dr. Sriram for helping us with corneal nerve fiber analysis; Dr. Santosh Shivaji for patient referral; and Dr. K. Bhujang K Shetty, Chairman Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore, India, for his support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.