Optic neuropathy after COVID-19 vaccination: Case report and systematic review

Optic neuritis after mRNA COVID‐19 vaccination: a case report

“…Critical visual loss occurs suddenly with pain, and only 0.4% of patients develop symptoms in both eyes simultaneously, 5,7,9 as in our case. VEP studied the visual function, and magnetic resonance imaging considered as a sensitive indicator of demyelination in ON, 10,11 as in our patient.…”

“…Only a total of 8 reports on 9 patients have been published to date, 8 of 9 were females. 5,7,9,11 Our case is the third case of post-COVID-19 vaccination optic neuropathy in a male. The cases affect young females more, with improvement with IV methylprednisolone therapy for most of them, after 6-14 days after the COVID-19 vaccination; meanwhile, our patient is a male who developed ON after 10 days of vaccination and did not respond to IV methylprednisolone therapy.…”

“…Optic neuritis following COVID‐19 vaccination against rarely reported in the literature. Only a total of 8 reports on 9 patients have been published to date, 8 of 9 were females 5,7,9,11 . Our case is the third case of post‐COVID‐19 vaccination optic neuropathy in a male.…”

“…Increased serum cortisol, free extracellular mRNA, and polyethylene glycol may be the cause. 4,9 Here, an autoimmune response leading to bilateral ON was triggered by mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, while it is difficult to prove the association with the causation of vaccines. 2,3,6,7 F I G U R E 1 Ophthalmological examination revealed counting fingers in both eyes.…”

“…The mechanism of ON following mRNA vaccination is still unclear. Increased serum cortisol, free extracellular mRNA, and polyethylene glycol may be the cause 4,9 …”