Ocular Inflammatory Events Following COVID-19 Vaccination in the Paediatric Population: A Multinational Case Series

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ocular inflammatory events following COVID-19 vaccination have been reported in the adult population. METHODS: Multinational case series of patients under the age of 18 diagnosed with ocular inflammatory events within 28 days of COVID-19 vaccination. RESULTS: Twenty individuals were included. The most common event was anterior uveitis (n = 8, 40.0%), followed by intermediate uveitis (7 patients, 35%), panuveitis (4 patients, 20%), and posterior uveitis (1 patient, 5%). The event was noticed in the first week after vaccination in 11 patients (55.0%). Twelve patients (60.0%) had a previous history of intraocular inflammatory event. Patients were managed with topical corticosteroids (n = 19, 95.0%), oral corticosteroids (n = 10, 50.0%), or increased dose of immunosuppressive treatment (n = 6, 30.0%). Thirteen patients (65.0%) had a complete resolution of the ocular event without complications. All patients had a final visual acuity unaffected or less than three lines of loss. CONCLUSION: Ocular inflammatory events may happen in the paediatric population following COVID-19 vaccination. Most events were successfully treated, and all showed a good visual outcome