Herpetic Eye Disease During the COVID-19 Pandemic at an Urban Hospital System

To report and compare the incidence, prevalence, and presentation of herpetic eye disease (HED) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in an urban hospital system and assess related COVID-19 infection or vaccination prior to presentation.

A retrospective chart review of patients with herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis and HSV uveitis based on ICD-10 diagnosis codes at the University of Illinois Hospitals from before the COVID-19 pandemic (May 1, 2018, to February 29, 2020) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021) was performed. For each patient, demographic and clinical information was recorded. For patients seen during the pandemic, any history of COVID-19 infection or vaccination prior to HED presentation was recorded. For patients who presented with a history of COVID-19 infection or vaccination, further chart review was performed.

Seventy-one patients (0.024%) out of 299,201 patients seen at the University of Illinois Hospitals presented with active HED in the period before the pandemic. Sixty-four patients (0.008%) out of 841,173 patients seen at the University of Illinois Hospitals presented with active HED in the period during the pandemic. Seventeen (26.6%) patients who presented during the pandemic had a history of COVID-19 infection or vaccination within 60 days prior to presentation.

Understanding the potential relationship between new presentations and recurrences of HED following COVID-19 exposure is important to consider with future COVID-19 infections and booster vaccinations. Providers should be aware of possible development of HED after COVID-19 vaccination or infection and should counsel patients accordingly.