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COVID-19 Vaccination and The Eye
Michael T M Wang1, Rachael L Niederer1, Charles N J McGhee1
1From Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
American Journal of Ophthalmology
|March 1, 2022
Summary
COVID-19 vaccination is safe for eye health. While rare ocular events like uveitis flares have been reported post-vaccination, population data show these are very uncommon, with benefits outweighing risks.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Vaccinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Ocular adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination are a concern for patients and clinicians.
- Understanding the real-world incidence and nature of these events is crucial for informed decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize current evidence regarding ocular adverse events associated with COVID-19 vaccines.
- To assess the safety profile of COVID-19 immunization in individuals with pre-existing eye conditions.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was performed across major databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane) in August 2021.
- Population-based pharmacovigilance data from global surveillance systems were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Case reports identified rare instances of uveitis flares and corneal graft rejection post-vaccination.
- Isolated cases of optic neuropathies, retinal conditions, scleritis, and herpetic eye disease were also noted.
- However, large-scale surveillance data indicate that vaccination-associated ocular adverse events are very rare.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 vaccine-associated ocular adverse events are infrequent.
- The established benefits of COVID-19 vaccination significantly outweigh the rare risks, even for individuals with pre-existing ophthalmic conditions.
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