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COVID-19 Vaccination and Acute Anterior Uveitis-A Case Control Study
Asaf Shemer1,2, Amit Toledano1,2, Aya Altarescu1,2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Shamir Medical Center (Formerly Assaf-Harofeh), Tzrifin 70300, Israel.
Vaccines
|February 26, 2025
Summary
This study found no evidence linking the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2) to new cases of acute anterior uveitis. Rates of uveitis remained consistent before and after vaccine rollout.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Vaccinology
- Immunology
Background:
- The BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech®) vaccine is widely used for COVID-19 prevention.
- Anterior uveitis is an inflammatory eye condition that can have various causes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a potential association between the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine and the development of new-onset acute anterior uveitis.
- To compare vaccination rates in patients with anterior uveitis against a control group.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case-control study was conducted in Israel.
- 16 patients diagnosed with new-onset acute anterior uveitis were compared to 48 matched controls.
- Vaccine exposure rates were analyzed, and odds ratios were calculated.
Main Results:
- Of the 16 cases, 11 received the first dose and 8 received the second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine before presentation.
- The odds ratio for vaccine exposure among cases was 0.508 (95% CI: 0.141-1.829, p=0.300).
- The incidence of acute anterior uveitis in 2021 was similar to the preceding six years.
Conclusions:
- This study found no statistically significant association between the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine and new-onset acute anterior uveitis.
- The incidence of acute anterior uveitis did not increase following the introduction of the BNT162b2 vaccine.
