CHARACTERIZING COVID-19-RELATED RETINAL VASCULAR OCCLUSIONS: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.

PURPOSE: To describe clinical and ophthalmologic features and outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease-19 with retinal vascular occlusions. METHODS: Retrospective multicenter case series and PubMed review of cases reported from March 2020 to September 2021. Outcome measures are as follows: type of occlusion, treatments, best-corrected visual acuity, and central macular thickness on optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients were identified. Fifteen patients with a median age of 39 (30-67) years were included in the multicenter study. Vascular occlusions included central retinal vein occlusion (12 eyes), branch retinal vein occlusion (4 eyes), and central retinal artery occlusion (2 eyes). Three cases were bilateral. Baseline best-corrected visual acuity was 20/45 (no light perception-20/20). Baseline central macular thickness was 348.64 (±83) µm. Nine eyes received anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents, dexamethasone intravitreal implant, or both. Final best-corrected visual acuity was 20/25 (no light perception-20/20), and central macular thickness was 273.7 ± 68 µm (follow-up of 19.6 ± 6 weeks). Among the 24 cases from the literature review, retinal vein occlusion was the predominant lesion. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were similar to those found in our series. CONCLUSION: Coronavirus disease-19-associated retinal vascular occlusions tend to occur in individuals younger than 60 years. Retinal vein occlusion is the most frequent occlusive event, and outcomes are favorable in most cases.

MYTHS AND TRUTHS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF RETINAL VASCULAR OCCLUSION WITH COVID-19.

PURPOSE: To critically review data published in the recent past to scrutinize a causal relationship between retinal vascular occlusion and COVID-19. METHOD: A comprehensive literature search was performed on Pubmed with the key words retinal vascular occlusion, retinal vein occlusion, retinal artery occlusion, and COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 17 case reports were published during this period, and 10 were on retinal vein occlusion and 7 on retinal artery occlusion. Most of the published reports lacked convincing evidences in one or the other aspects, such as insufficient laboratory workup or presence of multiple confounding risk factors. CONCLUSION: In this index article, strength of the data is insufficient to establish a definitive cause-and-effect relationship of retinal vascular occlusive disorders with COVID-19. Hence, clinicians can continue to manage these cases according to the standard guidelines until there are more robust evidences to support this association to alter the diagnostic and treatment modalities.

Retinal vein occlusion in COVID-19: A novel entity.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a form of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Ocular manifestations related to COVID-19 are uncommon with conjunctivitis being reported in a few cases. We report a unique case of vasculitic retinal vein occlusion (RVO) secondary to COVID-19 in a 52-year-old patient who presented with the diminution of vision in the left eye 10 days after he tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. All investigations for vasculitis were negative. This case supports the mechanism of thrombo-inflammatory state secondary to the "cytokine-storm" as the pathogenesis for systemic manifestations of COVID-19.

Human Adenovirus: An Unusual Causative Agent for Acute Retinal Necrosis Presented with Central Retinal Vascular Occlusion.

PURPOSE: We describe a case of acute retinal necrosis (ARN) with central retinal vascular occlusion caused by human adenovirus (HAdV). CASE REPORT: A 41-year-old man presented with a sudden decrease of visual acuity in his right eye since seven days. Visual acuity was hand movements and ophthalmic examination of the right eye revealed diffuse hemorrhagic retinal vasculitis with panuveitis. He was clinically diagnosed as ARN with central retinal vascular occlusion. An anterior chamber paracentesis and intravitreal ganciclovir injection were performed and intravenous ganciclovir has been initiated immediately. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of aqueous humor identified HAdV DNA as a causative agent. Oral prednisolone was added to treatment 5 days after antiviral therapy. After 10 days of intravenous ganciclovir therapy, oral valganciclovir was given for 6 months. No recurrence or retinal detachment occurred during follow-up. CONCLUSION: HAdV known to cause acute epibulbar infections of the eye may also cause intraocular inflammation such as ARN.

Combined central retinal artery and vein occlusion with optic perineuritis following herpes zoster dermatitis in an immunocompetent child.

A 15-year-old healthy boy developed acute, rapidly progressing visual loss in left eye following herpes zoster dermatitis, with a combined central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) and central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), along with optic perineuritis. Laboratory tests were negative. Despite an empirical, intensive antiviral treatment with systemic corticosteroids, and vision could not be restored in the affected eye. Herpes zoster dermatitis, in an immunocompetent individual, may be associated with a combined CRAO and CRVO along with optic perineuritis, leading to profound visual loss.

Peripheral ulcerative keratitis and central retinal vein occlusion as the initial manifestation of HIV infection.

PURPOSE: To report a case of peripheral ulcerative keratitis and central vein occlusion as the initial manifestation of HIV infection. METHOD: Case report. RESULT: A 46-year-old male presented with history of pain, redness, and diminished vision of left eye. Examination revealed left eye peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK) and right eye central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). The patient was found to be positive for HIV on serological evaluation. CONCLUSION: Atypical ophthalmic manifestations may be the initial presenting feature in patients with HIV infection. This highlights the need for increased index of suspicion for HIV infection in young patients with PUK and/or CRVO.

Central retinal vein occlusion caused by human herpesvirus 6.

We describe a 1-year-old girl with central retinal vein occlusion caused by human herpesvirus 6. She received systemic corticosteroid therapy. Although there was retinal recovery after the therapy, the visual acuity in her left eye still could not be measured.

Optic neuropathy and central retinal vascular obstruction as initial manifestations of acute retinal necrosis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this brief communication is to alert ophthalmologists that optic neuropathy may herald acute retinal necrosis (ARN). CASE: A previously healthy 54-year-old man exhibited optic neuropathy as an initial presentation of ARN, 8 weeks after varicella-zoster dermatitis. OBSERVATIONS: Central retinal vascular obstruction developed subsequently in his left eye. Later, the classic presentation of ARN appeared in his contralateral eye. Systemic acyclovir therapy stopped the progression of retinitis and resulted in healing of retinal lesions in his right eye. CONCLUSIONS: This case suggests that optic neuropathy, especially with preceding herpetic dermatitis, should be suspected as the prodrome of ARN.

Coincidence of cytomegalovirus retinitis and central retinal vein occlusion in a patient with hemophilia B and AIDS.

A 37-year-old man with hemophilia B, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and a unilateral cytomegalovirus retinitis developed a central retinal vein occlusion. This vascular complication occurred despite effective antiviral drug treatment with improvement of the fundus and despite decreased blood coagulability due to hemophilia B. Additional analyses of thrombophilic parameters did not reveal hints of systemic thrombophilia, suggesting that toxic and inflammatory effects of cytomegalovirus itself were responsible for the ophthalmologic aggravation.