Optic Neuritis Following COVID-19 Vaccination: Real-World Ophthalmic Presentation

Abstract

After being plagued by COVID-19 for nearly 2 years, the whole world wishes for little more than the complete eradication of the disease. Our country, India commenced the much-awaited vaccination drive in Jan 2021. Ophthalmic manifestations have appeared in many forms post-COVID, amongst which neuro-ophthalmic manifestations are infrequent. This is a short series of three cases that presented with optic neuritis (ON). On further inquiry, all had received the Covishield vaccine within 5–12 days before the presentation, with no history of COVID-positive RT-PCR. All patients improved after pulse steroid therapy and are still under follow-up. Nevertheless, it’s hard to determine whether post-COVD vaccine ON is a coincidence or cause. This series highlights the importance of taking the history of recent vaccination, especially in patients presenting with ON in the COVID 19 pandemic era.