Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Findings in Post-COVID-19 Healthcare Workers

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Virology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Emerging evidence suggests SARS-CoV-2 can impact ocular structures.
• Subtle retinal changes may occur following COVID-19 infection.
• Advanced imaging is crucial for detecting these alterations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate medium-term retinal anatomical changes after COVID-19 using optical coherence tomography (OCT).
• To correlate retinal alterations with COVID-19 severity and patient comorbidities.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case-control study involving 55 healthcare workers (25 COVID-19, 30 controls).
• Ophthalmological examinations including OCT imaging performed six months post-infection.
• Analysis of demographic data, comorbidities, disease severity, and treatments.

Main Results:

• Significantly increased central macular thickness (CMT) in the post-COVID-19 group (p < 0.05).
• Weak positive correlation between CMT and COVID-19 severity (r = 0.245, p < 0.05).
• No significant differences in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) or ganglion cell complex (GCL + IPL) thickness, though trends suggest early neurodegeneration.
• Comorbid patients showed reduced superior/inferior RNFL thickness, indicating potential neurovascular impairment.

Conclusions:

• OCT is valuable for detecting subclinical retinal changes post-COVID-19.
• Increased CMT suggests a post-inflammatory response.
• Long-term surveillance is recommended for recovered patients, especially those with comorbidities, due to potential neurovascular effects.