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Author Spotlight: Understanding Retinal Vessel Resilience and Disease Progression
Published on: January 12, 2024
Accelerated progression of diabetic retinopathy following severe COVID-19 infection
Clayton E Lyons1, Ivy Zhu1, Manjot K Gill1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 645 N Michigan Avenue, Ste 440, Chicago, IL, 60611, United States.
Purpose:
The impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pre-existing retinal pathology is currently unknown.
Observations:
We present a unique case of rapidly progressing diabetic retinopathy (DR) following severe COVID-19 infection requiring supplemental oxygen and subsequent long-COVID.
Conclusions And Importance:
Following infection with SARS-CoV-2, the associated acute and possible long-term hypoxia has the potential to affect the retina and accelerate the natural course of diabetic retinopathy.
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