Retinal findings in COVID-19 patients
Reviewed by Jonathan Chan

This is a single centre cross-sectional study from Brazil between 20 to 23 May 2020, with a total of 18 patients; nine male and median age was 62.5-years-old. 10/18 (55.6%) had retina abnormalities upon dilated eye examination. Flame-shaped haemorrhages were in 4/18 (22.2%), ischaemic pattern lesions, cotton wool spots and retinal sectoral pallor in 4/18 (22.2%), with one patient having both retinal changes. The authors postulated that the possible mechanisms are due to direct tissue damage by SARS-COV-2 and its immunogenicity involved in the nerve damage, or by the thrombo / embolic complications of coagulopathy related to the profound systemic inflammatory response against the virus. Further larger scale studies were recommended.

Retinal findings in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19.
Pereira LA, Soares LCM, Nascimento PA, et al.
THE BRITISH JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
2022;106(1):102-5.