A Case of Neuroretinitis Following COVID-19 Vaccination

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2023 Aug;31(6):1261-1264. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2022.2137047. Epub 2022 Oct 28.

Abstract

Purpose: To present a case of neuroretinitis following an mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.

Case report: A 78-year-old healthy woman was presented with blurry vision in her left eye 1 day after receiving the third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The ocular examination revealed an optic disc swelling and retinal thickening of the macula with subretinal fluid in the left eye. The fluorescein angiography revealed hyperfluorescence of the left optic disc. The neuroretinitis resolved gradually after taking azithromycin and prednisolone orally.

Conclusions: This is the first report of unilateral neuroretinitis following COVID-19 vaccination, implying a potential association between the mRNA vaccine and neuroretinitis.

Keywords: 2019 coronavirus disease; mRNA vaccine; neuroretinitis; optical coherence tomography; retina.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • BNT162 Vaccine
  • COVID-19 Vaccines* / adverse effects
  • COVID-19*
  • Chorioretinitis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Retinitis* / diagnosis
  • Retinitis* / drug therapy
  • Retinitis* / etiology
  • Vaccination / adverse effects

Substances

  • BNT162 Vaccine
  • COVID-19 Vaccines