Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 15, 2026

Optimization of the Retinal Vein Occlusion Mouse Model to Limit Variability
07:23

Optimization of the Retinal Vein Occlusion Mouse Model to Limit Variability

Published on: August 6, 2021

2.7K

Retinal vascular occlusion risks during the COVID-19 pandemic and after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Hyo Song Park1,2, Sunyeup Kim3, Christopher Seungkyu Lee4

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, South Korea.

Scientific Reports
|October 6, 2023
PubMed

Insights

This study found that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) did not increase the incidence of retinal vascular occlusions, including retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and retinal artery occlusion (RAO). Retinal occlusion rates remained stable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Vascular Biology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has raised concerns about its potential impact on vascular health, including the eye.
  • Limited evidence exists on a causal link between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and retinal vascular occlusions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate changes in the incidence of retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and retinal artery occlusion (RAO) during the COVID-19 era.
  • To determine if SARS-CoV-2 infection is a risk factor for developing RVO or RAO.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of RVO and RAO incidence rates between pre-pandemic (2018-2019) and pandemic (2020-July 2021) periods.
  • Assessment of RVO and RAO incidence in confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients around their diagnosis date (180 days before and after).
  • Calculation of standardized incidence ratios for RVO in COVID-19 patients.

Main Results:

  • Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) incidence slightly decreased (102.0 to 98.8 per 100,000 person-years), while retinal artery occlusion (RAO) incidence slightly increased (11.7 to 12.0 per 100,000 person-years) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • No significant change in RVO or RAO incidence was observed in COVID-19 patients when comparing periods before and after diagnosis.
  • The overall incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection did not significantly elevate the risk of RVO or RAO.

Conclusions:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic did not lead to a significant increase in the incidence of retinal vascular occlusions.
  • SARS-CoV-2 infection does not appear to be a direct cause of increased RVO or RAO incidence.

More Related Videos

In Vivo Vascular Injury Readouts in Mouse Retina to Promote Reproducibility07:35

In Vivo Vascular Injury Readouts in Mouse Retina to Promote Reproducibility

Published on: April 21, 2022

2.2K
Author Spotlight: Understanding Retinal Vessel Resilience and Disease Progression04:36

Author Spotlight: Understanding Retinal Vessel Resilience and Disease Progression

Published on: January 12, 2024

1.1K

Related Concept Videos

Glaucoma: Overview01:25

Glaucoma: Overview

Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...
Diabetic Retinopathy01:27

Diabetic Retinopathy

DefinitionDiabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes affecting the retinal blood vessels.Risk FactorsDiabetic retinopathy is present in almost all individuals with type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of those with type 2 diabetes after two decades of disease.The risk increases with poor glycemic control, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, pregnancy, and puberty.Although cataracts and glaucoma are also more frequent in people with diabetes, retinopathy remains the leading...