ABSTRACT
Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been documented to have a spectrum of neuro-ophthalmic manifestations. However, bilateral non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) post-COVID-19 has not been reported in the literature. We studied the case of a 45-year-old male who presented to our outpatient department (OPD) with bilateral blurring of vision following an episode of COVID-19, 1 month back. Examination and investigations were conclusive of a bilateral NAION. The patient was given a trial of oral steroids. However, the vision loss could not be recovered. Thus, through this case report, we would like to highlight the importance of a close follow-up of patients following COVID-19 infection to detect any sequelae.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Optic Nerve , Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic/diagnosis , Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic/etiology , SARS-CoV-2 , Vision DisordersABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report the analysis of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of nasopharyngeal (NP) samples of cornea donors dying because of causes unrelated to severe acute respiratory coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all cornea donors dying from causes other than SARS-CoV-2 between August 2020 and December 2020 was performed. Informed consent was obtained from the next of kin of the deceased for RT-PCR testing from NP swabs. Rapid antigen testing from all the deceased was performed before in situ cornea excision. In addition, NP samples in viral transport media for RT-PCR were also collected for SARS-CoV-2 analysis. Corneas were released from the eye bank only after a negative RT-PCR report. RESULT: One hundred eighteen corneas from 59 donors were obtained by the eye bank. Eleven donors (18.64%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 on RT-PCR testing. Six of these 11 donors had a Ct value of E gene less than 25. CONCLUSIONS: NP samples of cornea donors dying due to causes other than coronavirus disease-19 were positive for SARS-CoV-2 on RT-PCR. This implicates that donors could be having asymptomatic/undetected coronavirus disease infection. We recommend adding the routine testing of NP samples of all cornea donors in the eye banking protocol in this ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.