Multiple evanescent white dot syndrome following influenza immunization - A multimodal imaging study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Immunology

Background:

• Multiple Evanescent White Dot Syndrome (MEWDS) is an idiopathic inflammatory condition affecting the retina.
• Vaccination is a known trigger for various autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.

Observation:

• A 34-year-old male presented with acute visual disturbances including scotoma, photopsias, and dyschromatopsia.
• Symptoms appeared two weeks post-influenza vaccination with inactivated intra-dermal influenza virus.
• Multimodal imaging (MMI) confirmed findings consistent with MEWDS.

Findings:

• This report is the first to describe MMI findings in post-influenza vaccination-associated MEWDS.
• The patient's MMI abnormalities and visual symptoms resolved spontaneously within four weeks.
• Comparison with prior cases indicates MEWDS post-immunization typically affects young to middle-aged women and resolves over 1-3 months.

Implications:

• This case suggests a potential association between influenza vaccination and the development of MEWDS.
• Further research is warranted to understand the immunological mechanisms linking vaccination and MEWDS.
• Awareness among clinicians may aid in the diagnosis and management of similar post-vaccination ocular inflammatory events.