An infectious disease is a collective term for contagious diseases, and refers to diseases in which pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, etc., are transmitted to other organisms and spread in groups. Corona 19, an infectious disease that has changed our lives for the past three years, is not as feared as the first time, but now it is highly likely that we will have to live together, and we do not know how long the epidemic will last due to the continuous appearance of mutations. Although more is known about the disease than in the early days, and even if vaccines and treatments are not perfect, there are still many countries with low vaccination rates and many people in underdeveloped countries die in severe cases.
| Picture = Reporter Seo Sang-gyun |
For ophthalmologists, it is fortunate that ophthalmic complications due to corona are not common. However, since various complications are being reported in various parts of the world, we want to summarize the complications that can appear from Corona and the reactions that can occur after vaccination, and help those who have suffered Corona or current patients to recover.
Ophthalmic complications related to coronavirus infection are variously reported in all parts of the eye, from conjunctivitis episcleritis scleritis uveitis to glaucoma and retinal disease. Neuroophthalmic complications related to cerebral nerve palsy or cerebrovascular disorders are also rare. The most common complication is conjunctivitis, which is usually reported in 1% to 30% of corona patients, and is more common in patients with severe systemic disease, but the pattern is not significantly different from other viral conjunctivitis. It is known that there are few cases that progress to other diseases that threaten vision as it improves without special treatment.
Although it is not common, increased intraocular pressure due to scleritis or uveitis has been reported. Due to the hypercoagulability of blood caused by corona infection, cerebrovascular and intraocular blood vessels are occluded, which can lead to neuro-ophthalmic complications (double vision, extraocular muscle paralysis, visual acuity and visual field abnormalities). It is good to check in Among corona complications, there are many opinions that it is more convincing that existing cardiovascular diseases worsen due to restrictions on physical activity such as isolation, rather than direct complications due to corona, so it is better to exercise during isolation. .
Find out about the side effects related to the eyes that occur after the COVID-19 vaccine. Due to the global epidemic, unprecedented numbers of people were vaccinated at once at once, so various and rare but serious side effects have been reported throughout the body after getting it.
Usually, these side effects are caused by an activated autoimmune reaction after vaccination. Regarding ophthalmology, facial nerve palsy, uveitis, and central retinal blood vessel occlusion are the most common, and there are cases such as corneal transplant rejection and optic neuritis. After vaccination, edema of the conjunctiva or eyelid, optic neuritis, and intraocular inflammatory reaction may occur as side effects. described as causing
Like other vaccines that have been vaccinated so far, the corona vaccine can cause various side effects, but most people think that it is better to get it than to get it because it is not treated well and to get COVID-19. It is true that there are voices that we need to weigh the pros and cons between efficacy and side effects, but in the reality of living and living with other people, we have to think about the consequences of refusing a vaccine without a clear reason for others.
 |
Corona 19, which has plagued us for three years and changed many aspects of our lives, is still mutating and staying around us. Normal daily life seems far away to the extent that I can hardly remember my life before Corona, but I am looking forward to a normal life with no restrictions anymore.
Seunggi Kim, Director of Centum Precious One Eye Ophthalmology
