Background Inflammatory adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination are being reported amidst the growing concerns regarding vaccine’s immunogenicity and safety, especially in patients with pre-existing inflammatory conditions. Methods Multinational case series of patients diagnosed with an ocular inflammatory event within 14 days following COVID-19 vaccination collected from 40 centres over a 3 month period in 2021. Results Seventy patients presented with ocular inflammatory events within 14 days following COVID-19 vaccination. The mean age was 51 years (range, 19–84 years). The most common events were anterior uveitis (n = 41, 58.6%), followed by posterior uveitis (n = 9, 12.9%) and scleritis (n = 7, 10.0%). The mean time to event was 5 days and 6 days (range, 1–14 days) after the first and second dose of vaccine, respectively. Among all patients, 36 (54.1%) had a previous history of ocular inflammatory event. Most patients (n = 48, 68.6%) were managed with topical corticosteroids. Final vision was not affected in 65 (92.9%), whereas 2 (2.9%) and 3 (4.3%) had reduction in visual acuity reduced by ≤3 lines and > 3 lines, respectively. Reported complications included nummular corneal lesions (n = 1, 1.4%), cystoid macular oedema (n = 2, 2.9%) and macular scarring (n = 2, 2.9%). Conclusion Ocular inflammatory events may occur after COVID-19 vaccination. The findings are based on a temporal association that does not prove causality. Even in the possibility of a causal association, most of the events were mild and had a good visual outcome.

Purpose To present the clinical features of anterior, intermediate and posterior uveitis in patients with COVID-19 and to increase the awareness of the treating physicians to refer patients with COVID-19 who have eye symptoms for ophthalmic exam, in order to diagnose as early as possible and prevent vision-threatening complications. Methods Retrospective observational case reports. Results We report three cases of COVID-19 patients who developed uveitis during or after the course of their sickness with COVID-19. All patients underwent a detailed eye examination, relevant history and investigations did not prove any other cause of uveitis. Conclusion This report presents novel data on the course of subjects with uveitis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Intermediate and posterior uveitis warrant further evaluation with differential diagnosis supported by laboratory tests due to the association with systemic diseases and risk of permanent vision loss. Iridocyclitis, intermediate, and posterior uveitis treatment should be guided by ophthalmologists, particularly uveitis specialists, when possible.

Behçet disease (BD) is a multisystemic disease that commonly involves the eyes. Although it affects patients in all age groups, data on ocular disease by age of onset are limited. This retrospective, multicenter study aimed to compare epidemiology, systemic and ocular manifestations, treatments and outcomes between three age groups: juvenile (<18 years), adult (18–39 years) and late (≥40 years) disease onset. The study included 175 ocular BD patients (303 eyes) from Israel and Palestine: juvenile-onset (n = 25, 14.3%), adult-onset (n = 120, 68.6%) and late-onset (n = 30, 17.1%). Most patients in all groups were male. Systemic manifestations were similar in all groups. Systemic co-morbidities were more common in late-onset patients. Bilateral panuveitis was the most common ocular manifestation in all patients. Non-occlusive retinal vasculitis, peripheral vessel occlusions, cataract and elevated intraocular pressure were found more commonly among juvenile-onset eyes. Anterior uveitis and macular ischemia were most common among late-onset eyes, while branch retinal vein occlusion was most common in adult and late-onset eyes. All patients were treated with corticosteroids. Methotrexate, immunomodulatory combinations and biologic treatments were more commonly used for juvenile-onset patients. All groups had a similar visual outcome. Our study showed that patients with ocular BD have varied ocular manifestations and require different treatments according to age of disease onset, but visual outcome is similar.

Background This case study documents the first familial case of Blau syndrome (BS) in Palestine characterized with mutation in CARD15/NOD2. Case presentation Eighteen years old female was initially misdiagnosed with Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The patient had been on steroids and methotrexate treatment for the last 16 years, but did not respond well to treatment. Initial examination at Saint John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group clinic showed bilateral intermediate uveitis with camptodactyly. The patient’s sister (aged 19 years) had bilateral intermediate uveitis and camptodactyly. Both eyes of their father had signs of old posterior uveitis. Father’s left eye showed 360 degrees posterior synechia, mature cataract with old Keratic precipitates (KPs). He also had camptodactyly. The patient was referred to pediatric rheumatologist to rule out sarcoidosis. Lung CT scan showed bronchiectasis, genetic consultation followed. Complete eye examination, full history, refraction, and Optical coherence tomography (oct) were done. Systemic and topical steroid therapy could not control the ocular inflammation. The family then was referred to a geneticist. Genetic analyses showed that the proband and all three family members had an R334q mutation in the CARD15/Nod2 gene. Conclusions BS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of childhood uveitis, especially in low and middle income countries where it is misdiagnosed in many cases, which delay appropriate diagnosis and thus control. Genetic analysis of the CARD15/Nod2 gene is helpful in the diagnosis. Steroids alone are not enough to control the disease, other immunosuppressants and biologics are needed.

The literature on retinal vascular occlusions in Behçet disease (BD) patients is limited. The aim of this study is to thoroughly investigate retinal vascular occlusions among ocular BD patients. Methods: Retrospective, multicentre case-control study. Three-hundred and three eyes of 175 patients with ocular BD, from 13 hospitals in Israel and Palestine, were included. Patients were assigned into two groups according to the presence of retinal vascular occlusion. Epidemiology, systemic and ocular manifestations, treatments and outcomes were compared between the groups and risk factors for retinal vascular occlusions were identified. Results: One hundred twenty-five patients (71.4%) were male. The mean age at presentation was 28.2 ± 0.86 years. Retinal vascular occlusions were found in 80 eyes of 54 (30.9%) patients, including branch retinal vein occlusion (51.3%), peripheral vessels occlusions (32.5%), central retinal vein occlusion (13.8%) and arterial occlusions (7.5%). Systemic manifestations were similar among both groups. Anterior uveitis was more common in non-occlusive eyes (p < 0.01). Non-occlusive retinal vasculitis (p = 0.03) and ocular complications were more common in occlusive eyes (p < 0.01). Treatments including mycophenolate mofetil, Infliximab or a combination therapy of anti-metabolite and calcineurin inhibitor were more | M ET HOD SThis is a multicentre retrospective study, including 13 tertiary and non-tertiary medical centres, from Israel