Acute Uveitis Following AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccination

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2023 Aug;31(6):1295-1298. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2023.2189456. Epub 2023 Apr 6.

Abstract

Purpose: To report a case of bilateral acute uveitis following the first and subsequent doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination.

Method: A case report.

Results: A 74-year-old Caucasian woman was presented with a one-day history of blurred vision, pain, photophobia, and redness in both eyes after receiving her first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Clinical evaluation confirmed bilateral anterior and intermediate uveitis six days later. Targeted diagnostic testing excluded infectious or autoimmune etiologies. After treatment with topical and oral corticosteroids, the patient had a resolution of symptoms with the recovery of visual function within seven weeks. Subsequently, she developed a recurrence of uveitis following the second dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, which required similar treatment, with slower tapering of corticosteroids over ten weeks. The patient had a full visual recovery.

Conclusion: Our case highlights the possibility of uveitis as an ocular complication of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination.

Keywords: Adverse effects; COVID-19; ocular inflammation; uveitis; vaccination.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Aged
  • COVID-19 Vaccines* / adverse effects
  • COVID-19* / diagnosis
  • ChAdOx1 nCoV-19
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Uveitis* / diagnosis
  • Uveitis* / etiology
  • Vaccination / adverse effects

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • ChAdOx1 nCoV-19
  • COVID-19 Vaccines