One-Year Changes in Optic Nerve Head Parameters in Recovered COVID-19 Patients

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Imaging
• Infectious Disease Complications

Background:

• COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) can potentially affect ocular structures.
• Long-term ocular changes post-infection require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate changes in peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and vessel density (VD) in post-COVID-19 patients.
• To assess these ocular parameters over a 12-month follow-up period.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study including 90 patients (180 eyes) with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• Ophthalmological examination, OCT, and OCT angiography (OCTA) performed at 1, 3, and 12 months post-diagnosis.
• Sociodemographic data, medical history, and disease severity were recorded.

Main Results:

• No ocular abnormalities directly attributable to SARS-CoV-2 were detected initially.
• A significant decrease in global RNFL thickness was observed from baseline to 12 months (P < 0.001).
• Increased VD and flux index were noted in specific sectors at 12 months, with a correlation between vascularization and RNFL thickness.

Conclusions:

• SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with changes in peripapillary RNFL thickness and retinal vascularization one year post-infection.
• Observed changes may indicate a recovery process in these ocular parameters.