- A new study found 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 that researchers have noticed nodules in the back of patients’ eyes.
- Experts say that viral infection can affect blood vessels, which can lead to lumps.
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, started by the French Society of Neuroradiology, used MRI scans to find significant abnormalities in the eyes of some people with severe COVID-19.
He analyzed 129 patients, all of whom underwent an MRI scan of the brain. Of the 129 patients, 9 (7 percent) had abnormal results of magnetic resonance imaging of the eyeball. Eight of these patients were admitted to the ICU for COVID-19. The scans revealed one or more nodules at the back of the eye.
COVID-19 has been linked to cases of conjunctivitis, but this is the first time that researchers have noticed major abnormalities. In this case, the nodules at the back of the patients’ eyes.
The researcher’s theory is that the nodules may be related to inflammation triggered by the virus and inadequate drainage of the veins around the eyes due to the patient’s prone position for a significant period of time.
Seven of the nine patients with nodules spent time in the prone position in the ICU or were intubated.
Of the nine patients, many also had underlying diseases. Two had diabetes, six were obese and two had hypertension.
These conditions and the ICU stay can affect eye health.
For those who are hospitalized for COVID-19, simply being in bed can be a risk. Standing in a supine position for a long period of 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 start causing damage to the eye.
“When you have a virus going into the bloodstream, the blood vessels are blocked, which causes an inflammatory response that may be affecting the eye socket,” explained Kirsch.
As with other recently discovered potential side effects of COVID-19, long-term risks are still being assessed. As a small sample group has been studied, further testing is needed to determine long-term risks.
There may be many other patients with severe COVID-19 who have these nodules. Since the focus was on keeping their vital signs under control while in the ICU, these patients were not subjected to these other accurate tests.
“When these patients arrive, they are very sick. The goal is to keep them alive. In the ICU, our focus is only on keeping them able to breathe ”, said Kirsch, explaining why these nodules may not have been detected previously.
She also noted that nodules may be forming in other parts of the body, but doctors do not know how to perform the screening.
One reason to be aware of eye nodules is that they can lead to blindness if left untreated.
“The first goal is to get patients to breathe on their own and reduce viral load,” said Kirsch. “Prevention would be ideal for patients not to contract the disease. Washing your hands and all the basics are also important, but we are still learning about what happens to the eyes. “
The study suggests that eye screening should be considered in all patients with severe COVID-19. The exams may include an MRI and a fundus examination, which uses a magnifying glass and light to check the back of the eye.
Doctors are still discovering and learning about this potential side effect. The virus mainly attacks the lungs, but has previously been associated with eye abnormalities, such as conjunctivitis.
Even so, ocular anomalies remain largely unexamined in relation to COVID-19.
“We haven’t seen many complications of COVID-19 from an eye point of view,” said Dr. Mark Fromer, an ophthalmologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.
“We saw some conjunctivitis associated with COVID-19, but it usually disappeared on its own without intervention. It is very easy to check the back of the eye without an MRI scan, ”he said. “What the study suggests makes sense, which is an eye exam in which the pupil is dilated and the macula can be checked with a magnifying glass.”