Bilateral Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Following COVID-19 Vaccination in a Healthy Young Patient

In Jeong Lyu

Department of Ophthalmology, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Republic of Korea

^*Correspondance to: In Jeong Lyu 

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Abstract:

Background: Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION) is the most common cause of unilateral optic neuropathy in older individuals with cardiovascular risk factors. However, we report a case of bilateral NAION in a young, healthy patient following COVID-19 vaccination. Case Report: A 32-year-old man visited the neuro-ophthalmologic clinic with a headache and decreased vision in both eyes for a week. He received a secondary dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccination, and thereafter experienced severe headache and blurred vision for one week. Ophthalmologic examination revealed optic nerve swelling and inferior nasal visual field defect in both eyes. The right eye is more prominent than the left eye. The work-up tests to exclude thromboembolic side effects, increased intracranial pressure associated with the side effects of COVID-19 vaccination, and optic neuritis were all non-remarkable. He is diagnosed with NAION. After 3 months, disc swelling decreased, but macular optical coherence tomography demonstrated thinning of the superior ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer in the right eye. The patient’s visual symptoms and visual field defects also improved in both eyes. Conclusion: This case supports the theory that NAION can occur as a post-vaccine reaction, rather than as a coincidence, and the COVID-19 vaccine may play an important role in the development of NAION.

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Cite the Article:

Lyu IJ. Bilateral Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Following COVID-19 Vaccination in a Healthy Young Patient. Ann Clin Case Rep. 2022; 7: 2319..