- A new study finds that people with severe COVID-19 may be at risk for certain eye abnormalities.
- COVID-19 has been linked to cases of conjunctivitis, but this is the first time researchers have seen nodules on patients’ backs.
- Experts say that the viral infection can affect the blood vessels, which could lead to nodules.
New research shows that patients with severe COVID-19 may be at risk for certain eye abnormalities, according to a study published today in the medical journal Radiology.
The study, initiated by the French Society of Neuroradiology, used MRI scans to find significant abnormalities in the eyes of people with severe COVID-19.
129 patients were analyzed, all of whom underwent a brain MRI. Of the 129 patients, 9 (7%) had abnormal MRI results of the eyeball. Eight of these patients spent time in intensive care for COVID-19. Scans revealed one or more nodules on the back of the eye.
COVID-19 has been linked to cases of conjunctivitis, but this is the first time researchers have observed major abnormalities. In this case, the nodules behind the eyes of patients.
The researcher’s theory is that the nodules could be related to the inflammation triggered by the virus and the inadequate drainage of the veins around the eyes due to patients who remain in a predisposed position for a significant period of time.
Seven of the nine patients with nodules spent time in an intensive care unit or were intubated.
Of the nine patients, many also had underlying conditions. Two had diabetes, six were obese, and two had hypertension.
These conditions and staying in the ICU can affect all eye health.
For those who are hospitalized for COVID-19, simply being in bed can be a risk. Staying in a supine position for a long time can affect the drainage of these blood vessels.
Dr. Claudia FE Kirsch, head of the neuroradiology division at Northwell Health in New York, said the infection could also trigger a response that could begin to affect the eye.
“When you have a virus that enters the bloodstream, the blood vessels block, causing an inflammatory response that could affect the eye socket,” Kirsch explained.
As with other potentially discovered side effects of COVID-19, long-term risks are still being assessed. Because such a small sample group has been studied, more tests are needed to determine the long-term risks.
There may be many other patients with severe COVID-19 who have these nodules. Because the focus was on keeping their vitality under control while in intensive care, these patients were not subjected to these other precise tests.
“When these patients come in, they are very sick. The goal is to keep them alive. In the ICU, we only focus on keeping them able to breathe, ”said Kirsch, explaining why these nodules may not have been caught before.
She also mentioned that nodules could form in other parts of the body, but doctors did not know how to detect them.
One reason to be wary of eye sores is that they could lead to blindness if left untreated.
“The first goal is to get patients to breathe on their own and reduce the viral load,” Kirsch said. Prevention would be ideal, so that patients do not contract the disease at all. Hand washing and all the basics are also important, but we still find out what happens to the eyes. ”
The study suggests that eye screening should be considered in all patients with severe COVID-19. Screenings could include an MRI and fundoscopy, which use a magnifying glass and a light to check the back of the eye.
Doctors are still discovering and learning about this potential side effect. The virus primarily attacks the lungs, but has previously been linked to eye abnormalities, such as conjunctivitis.
However, ocular abnormalities remain largely unstudied with respect to COVID-19.
“I haven’t seen a lot of COVID-19 eye complications,” said Dr. Mark Fromer, an ophthalmologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.
“I saw some conjunctivitis associated with COVID-19, but it was generally eliminated on its own, without intervention. It is quite easy to check the back of the eye without an MRI, ”he said. “What the study suggests makes sense, which is an eye examination in which the pupil is dilated and the macula can be checked with a magnifying glass.”