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Corneal Cellular and Neuroinflammatory Changes After SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Zsofia Kolkedi1, Adrienne Csutak, Eszter Szalai
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
Cornea
|March 29, 2022
Summary
COVID-19 infection alters the cornea, causing lower keratocyte density and increased dendritic cells. These changes suggest neuroinflammation in the cornea following SARS-CoV-2 infection, even without visible eye symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Mild SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection can have long-term effects.
- Corneal changes and neuroinflammation are potential post-COVID-19 complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate corneal cellular and ultrastructural changes after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- To quantify the neuroinflammatory process in the cornea post-COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- In vivo confocal microscopy was used to examine 30 post-COVID-19 patients and 41 controls.
- Corneal cell densities (keratocytes, endothelial cells), dendritic cell (DC) density/area, and subbasal nerve plexus morphology were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Patients post-SARS-CoV-2 showed significantly lower posterior stromal keratocyte density.
- Increased central corneal DC density and area were observed in post-COVID-19 patients.
- Subbasal nerve fiber morphology was significantly altered in patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Conclusions:
- Corneal cellular and ultrastructural changes indicate neuroinflammation in the cornea following COVID-19.
- These findings suggest a potential link between SARS-CoV-2 infection and corneal nerve damage.
- Ophthalmoscopic examination may not reveal these subtle, underlying corneal changes.
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