Posterior segment manifestations and imaging features post-COVID-19

Background: To report the posterior segment (uvea and retinal) manifestations and imaging characteristics of eyes of patients with and after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Methods: We searched the PubMed/MEDLINE database to identify relevant articles using the following search terms: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, retina, uvea, optic nerve, retinal findings, posterior segment manifestations, and endophthalmitis. Articles published from December 1, 2019, to May 30, 2021, and indexed in PubMed/MEDLINE were screened.Results: For the purpose of this review, we included clinical features of 26 case reports and 8 case series. The posterior segment manifestations reported included cotton wool spots, retinal hemorrhages, central serous retinopathy, papillophlebitis, optic neuritis, panuveitis, multifocal retinitis, necrotizing retinitis, central retinal artery/vein occlusion, and Purtschner like retinopathy. In this review, we have also included optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) features that have been described in COVID-19 patients with pneumonia.Conclusions: COVID-19 patients can experience uveo-retinal manifestations even after recovery. These patients, even if asymptomatic for eye symptoms, should undergo an eye evaluation to rule out posterior segment involvement. OCTA performed in these patients revealed microvascular changes in the superficial and deep retinal plexuses. Some of these patients may require anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy.

Estimation of Ascorbic acid and Total Vitamin C contents in some Vegetables/ Fruits available at B.G. Nagar area-South Karnataka region/ India

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that can act as potent antioxidant and is the essential micronutrient for the humans. Vitamin C is chemically L-enantiomer of Ascorbic acid and its oxidized form i.e.;Dehydroascorbic acid (homologs of vitamin C). Vitamin C plays an important role in prevention of diseases like scurvy, bacterial infections, common cold, COVID-19, etc. The present work was aimed to estimate Vitamin C homologs in some selected fruits and vegetables available in the local market. Two analytical methods were used to estimate Vitamin C i.e.;titrimetry and visible spectroscopy. To estimate vitamin C content through titrimetry, AOAC method was followed using DCIP as titrant. Similarly, Spectroscopy method was followed to determine vitamin C content with 2,4-DNPH. The results revealed that, the applied titrimetry method can be used to estimate Ascorbic acid content only whereas the visible spectroscopy method using 2,4-DNPH gave the information about both ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid content i.e.;Total vitamin C content. The difference in between the results can be considered to calculate the amount of oxidized form of Ascorbic acid (Dehydroascorbic acid). Hence, by performing these two methods simultaneously, the amount of ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid and total vitamin C can be obtained easily at a time. Copyright © 2022, Anka Publishers. All rights reserved.

"Old wine in a new bottle" - post COVID-19 infection, central serous chorioretinopathy and the steroids.

INTRODUCTION: Corona virus disease (COVID-19) pandemic can cause myriad of ocular manifestations. We report a case of unilateral multi focal central serous retinopathy, post COVID-19 infection in an Asian Indian female. CASE PRESENTATION: A 42-year-old female presented to us with unilateral blurring, in the right eye (OD), 12 days after COVID-19 infection. She had fever, chills, shortness of breath and cough with tiredness and was COVID- RT PCR positive. She was administered intravenous and oral antibiotics with injection heparin/remdesivir, during her 7 day stay at the hospital. She was also on steroid inhalers. She had no systemic history of note. On ocular evaluation, her corrected distance visual acuity was 20/40 in OD and 20/20 in left eye (OS). Anterior segment was normal. Anterior vitreous was clear. Fundus examination of the OD showed central serous retinopathy (CSCR) with OS being normal. CONCLUSION: CSCR can occur post COVID-19 due to steroid administration and physicians administering it should be aware of this and refer the patients to an ophthalmologist earlier.

In Vivo Confocal Microscopy Features In Post COVID19 Fungal Endophthalmitis In Type 2 Diabetes (preprint)

Introduction: Corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19) infection with aggressive treatment has resulted in immunosuppression, and co-existing comorbidities that have made patients vulnerable to secondary infections including fungal infections. Purpose: We describe the clinical presentation, various diagnostic methods including in-vivo confocal microscopy features, management and clinical outcomes in Post COVID-19 fungal endophthalmitis in type II diabetics. Methods: Prospective, interventional study on two patients who recovered from COVID-19 who developed endogenous endophthalmitis presented to a tertiary eye care centre in South India. Results: Fungal infection was diagnosed based on clinical features, confocal microscopy, molecular diagnostic methods and culture methods. Two patients were treated with topical, intravitreal and systemic antifungal therapy. Conclusion: We report for the first time two cases of post COVID-19 fungal endophthalmitis in two diabetic patients with confocal features. High index of suspicion, early diagnosis, and appropriate management can improve the visual outcome in post COVID-19 fungal endophthalmitis cases.