Investigation of Retinal Alterations in Patients Recovered from COVID-19: A Comparative Study

ABSTRACT

Aim

: To evaluate any abnormalities on retinal examination and retinal microvascularity in patients recovered from COVID-19.

Materials and Methods

: Cross-sectional, case- control study. Patients between 18 and 65 years old with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and age matched controls were included. Macular and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, vessel density of the superficial (SCP) and the deep retinal capillary plexus (DCP) and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) were measured and compared with controls.

Results

: This study included 200 eyes of 200 cases totally. Of them 105 cases were patients and 95 cases were controls. Retinal abnormalities were detected by indirect ophthalmoscopic examination in ten patients of 105 cases (10.5%). There was no statistically significant difference in the vessel density of the SCP and the DCP and the mean FAZ measurements.

Conclusion

: There isn’t any relevant difference between early post-COVID-19 patients and general population in terms of retinal microvascularity.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• macula
• retina
• OCT
• OCTA

Acknowledgments

Statistical analysis were performed by Emire Bor. Proof reading were supported by Gokhan Demirayak. The authors would like to thank all the participants.

Disclosure statement

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