Herpetic anterior uveitis following Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine: two case reports

J Med Case Rep. 2022 Mar 25;16(1):127. doi: 10.1186/s13256-022-03350-6.

Abstract

Purpose: To describe two cases of herpetic anterior uveitis after inoculation of the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine.

Methods: Case 1: a healthy 92-year-old Caucasian woman developed symptomatic unilateral anterior uveitis for 3 days after Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination (Pfizer Inc.). The episode fully resolved with topical and oral antiviral treatment. Case 2: a previously healthy 85-year-old Caucasian woman with left hemicranial signs of herpes zoster infection, associated with herpetic keratouveitis for 3 days after Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination. Treatment with topical antibiotics and both oral and topical antiherpetic medication was administered, and she recovered successfully in 5 weeks.

Conclusion: Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of eye inflammation in the form of herpetic reactivation after coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination.

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccines; Herpes zoster; Inflammation; SARS-CoV2; Uveitis anterior.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • COVID-19 Vaccines / adverse effects
  • COVID-19*
  • Female
  • Herpes Zoster* / complications
  • Humans
  • Uveitis*
  • Uveitis, Anterior* / diagnosis
  • Uveitis, Anterior* / drug therapy
  • Uveitis, Anterior* / etiology

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines