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Posterior ocular manifestations following BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine: a case series
Shani Pillar1, Tamar Weinberg1, Radgonde Amer2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, POB 12000, 91120, Jerusalem, Israel.
Purpose:
To report the occurrence of posterior ocular adverse events following the administration of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2.
Methods:
A retrospective consecutive case series, in which the medical files of patients presenting with ocular adverse events within 30 days of the vaccine inoculation, were analyzed.
Results:
Four patients (2 females) were included in the study. The diagnoses included: posterior scleritis, paracentral acute middle maculopathy, herpes panuveitis, and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH)-like uveitis. Three of the patients had no relevant ocular history, but the patient who developed scleritis was in remission without medical therapy for four years, until the flare-up, which occurred one day after the vaccine. All patients improved with treatment.
Conclusion:
Though a causal relationship cannot be definitively established, the temporal relationship suggests a possible link between the COVID-19 vaccine and the posterior ocular complications. The benefits of vaccination clearly outweigh the potential adverse effects; however, ophthalmologists should be aware of the potential for vaccine-associated uveitis.
Insights
The BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 may be linked to posterior ocular events like uveitis. While benefits outweigh risks, ophthalmologists should monitor for these rare vaccine-associated complications.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Vaccinology
- Immunology
Background:
- The BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech) is widely used for SARS-CoV-2 prevention.
- Ocular adverse events following vaccination require careful monitoring and reporting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document posterior ocular adverse events occurring after BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination.
- To investigate potential associations between the COVID-19 vaccine and eye complications.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case series analysis.
- Inclusion criteria: ocular adverse events within 30 days of BNT162b2 vaccination.
- Review of medical records for four affected patients.
Main Results:
- Four patients (2 female) presented with posterior ocular conditions: scleritis, maculopathy, panuveitis, and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH)-like uveitis.
- One patient experienced a scleritis flare-up one day post-vaccination.
- All patients demonstrated improvement with therapeutic interventions.
Conclusions:
- A temporal association suggests a potential link between the COVID-19 vaccine and posterior ocular events.
- While causality is not definitively proven, awareness of vaccine-associated uveitis is crucial for ophthalmologists.
- The established benefits of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination significantly exceed potential risks.
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