Bilateral Sequential Acute Macular Neuroretinopathy in an Asian Indian Female with β Thalassemia Trait following (Corona Virus Disease) COVID-19 Vaccination and Probable Recent COVID Infection - Multimodal Imaging Study

Abstract

Introduction: Corona virus disease (COVID-19) has been associated with a variety of ophthalmic manifestations including acute macular neuroretinopathy and paracentral middle maculopathy. Posterior segment manifestations after post COVID-19 vaccinations have been reported.

Case report: A 25- year-old Asian Indian female developed sequential bilateral AMN following a single dose of COVISHIELD™ vaccine. On investigations she was found to have a β thalassemia trait. Presentation started unilaterally and progressed to the other eye after a month. On clinical examination, the fundus was apparently normal in both eyes. Significant changes suggestive of AMN were seen on multimodal imaging of the posterior segment of the respective eye at the time of involvement which resolved spontaneously in due course.

Conclusion: We report a temporal association of COVID-19 vaccination and AMN.

Keywords: Acute macular neuroretinopathy; Asian Indian female; COVISHIELD™ vaccination; anemia; β thalassemia.