RESUMEN
Purpose/Relevance: Pediatric cases of COVID-19 have increased in the setting of the highly transmissible delta variant which has impacted the care of children by ophthalmologists. Inflammatory ocular manifestations of acute COVID-19 infections have been observed and are important to recognize and expeditiously manage. Further, ocular involvement has been recognized in MIS-C. Finally, new challenges in treating and monitoring patients with non-infectious uveitis (NIU) evolved. Guidance is needed regarding immunosuppression, reducing clinic visits/in-hospital exposures while maintaining disease control, and vaccination. Target Audience: Pediatric ophthalmologists, fellows, residents. Current Practice: Ocular inflammatory manifestations are reported in children during or after symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID-19 infection and may go unrecognized. Guidelines for managing children with NIU on immunosuppressive treatment (IMT) continues to evolve, and updated information is needed. Best Practice: Knowledge of ocular manifestations of acute and post-infectious COVID-19 including Multisystemic Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) will improve clinical care of children. Patients may present with conjunctivitis, optic neuritis, transient myasthenia-like syndrome, acute anterior uveitis, keratitis, pan-uveitis and papilledema. Ophthalmic management often involves systemic work-up and coordination of care amongst a multidisciplinary team. Consensus guidelines for monitoring uveitis and preventing COVID-19 infection in children with NIU on IMT may be applied to clinical practice. Expected Outcomes: Clinicians will develop an understanding of (1) Ophthalmic manifestations of acute and post-infectious COVID-19 infection and MIS-C (2) Challenges and strategies to manage NIU during a pandemic (3) Updates on infection risk and vaccination strategies for children on IMT. Format: Didactic, case presentations, rheumatology, ophthalmology panel discussion with audience participation. Summary: COVID-19-related ocular manifestations such as conjunctivitis, uveitis, pan-uveitis and optic neuritis are rare but are important to recognize. Children with NIU on IMT represent a unique patient population balancing ophthalmic follow-up and control of ocular/systemic disease and preventing infection.Copyright © 2022