Optic Nerve Head Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings after Coronavirus Disease

Abstract

Purpose: To quantify the microvasculature density of the optic nerve head (ONH) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) analysis in patients recovered from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
 Methods: In a comparative cross-sectional, observational study, patients recovered from COVID- 19 whose initial diagnosis was confirmed by an rRT-PCR of a nasopharyngeal sample were included in this study. OCTA of ONH was performed in included patients and normal controls. Vascular density (VD) of the all vessels (AV) and small vessels (SV) inside the disc and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) network density was measured in COVID-19 recovered patients and compared with similar parameters in an age-matched group of normal controls.
 Results: Twenty-five COVID-19 patients and twenty-two age-matched normal controls were enrolled in the study and one eye per participant was evaluated. The mean whole image SV VD in the COVID-19 group (49.31 ± 1.93) was not statistically significantly different from that in the control group (49.94 ±. 2.22; P = 0.308). A decrease in RPC VD was found in all AV and SV VD measured, which became statistically significant in whole peripapillary SV VD, peripapillary inferior nasal SV VD, peripapillary inferior temporal SV VD, peripapillary superior nasal SV VD, and grid-based AV VD inferior sector (P < 0.05). Inside disc SV VD in the COVID-19 group (49.43 ± 4.96) was higher than in the control group (45.46 ± 6.22) which was statistically significant (P = 0.021).
 Conclusion: Unremarkable decrease was found in ONH microvasculature in patients who had recovered from COVID-19. These patients may be at risk of ONH vascular complications. Increase in inner disc SV VD may be an indicator of ONH hyperemia and edema.

Bilateral anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and choroidal ischemia in a patient with COVID‐19 infection

“…A decrease in vessel density (VD) in the superficial and deep capillary plexus, as well as an increase in inner disk small vessel VD which can be associated with optic disk hyperemia and edema, has been documented. [5][6][7] These alterations suggest that COVID-19 infection puts patients at risk of choroidal and optic nerve disorders. mentioned, in our patient, bilateral painless vision loss occurred first, and pain was added after four days.…”

“…Changes in the retinal and optic nerve head microvasculature have been identified in previous research. A decrease in vessel density (VD) in the superficial and deep capillary plexus, as well as an increase in inner disk small vessel VD which can be associated with optic disk hyperemia and edema, has been documented 5–7 . These alterations suggest that COVID‐19 infection puts patients at risk of choroidal and optic nerve disorders.…”

A cross sectional study to clinically evaluate the retina of COVID-19 patients in a tertiary care Government designated COVID hospital

“…Virgo and Mohamed [15] reported two patients with par central acute middle maculopathy (PAMM) and acute macular neuroretinopathy following SARS-CoV-2 infection which can be incidental. Insausti-Garcı´a et al [16] reported a case of papillophlebitis associated with COVID19. Most of these cases of Retinal vasculitis or Retinal Ischemia in literature were either a case report or small sample studies.…”

Bilateral anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and secondary angle-closure glaucoma in a patient with COVID-19 infection

“…Changes in the retinal and optic nerve head microvasculature have been identified in previous research. A decrease in vessel density (VD) in the superficial and deep capillary plexus, as well as an increase in inner disc small vessel VD which can be associated with optic disc hyperemia and edema, have been documented [6][7][8] . These alterations suggest that COVID-19 infection puts patients at risk for retinal and optic nerve disorders.…”