Exacerbation of branch retinal vein occlusion post SARS-CoV2 vaccination: Case reports.

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE In this paper, we report on 2 patients who developed branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) exacerbation 1 day after administration of the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. PATIENT CONCERNS Case 1 A 71 year-old female developed vision loss in her left eye 1 day after receiving a second dose of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine. This patient was diagnosed with temporal inferior BRVO and secondary macular edema (ME) in her left eye. ME resolved after 3 doses of intravitreal aflibercept (IVA). After treatment, no recurrence of ME was observed.Case 2 A 72 year-old man developed vision loss in his right eye 1 day after receiving the first dose of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine. This patient was diagnosed with temporal superior BRVO in the right eye without ME. The patient was followed up and did not undergo any additional treatment. DIAGNOSES Case1 Temporal superior BRVO and secondary ME were observed in the left eye. Her best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/30.Case2 Temporal superior BRVO recurrence and secondary ME were observed in the right eye. BCVA was 20/25. INTERVENTIONS: Case1 Additional dose of IVA was administered. Case2 Two times of Intravitreal ranibizumab was administered twice. OUTCOMES: Case1 Subsequently, ME resolved BCVA was 20/20. Case2 Subsequently, ME resolved BCVA was 20/25. LESSONS Both cases showed a possible association between SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and the exacerbation of BRVO.