The influence of Covid-19 infection and pandemic restrictions on the risk of corneal transplant rejection or failure: a multi-centre study
Reviewed by Su Young

This multi-centre cohort study aimed to examine the effect of Covid-19 infection and restrictions from the pandemic on the incidence of corneal transplant rejection of failure. Included were 21,991 patients with any keratoplasty performed between January 2020 and July 2022, of which 8.8% were diagnosed with Covid-19. Matching by age, gender, body mass index, and medical comorbidities, two balanced cohorts of 1927 patients were identified where no significant difference in risk of corneal graft rejection or failure among groups (aHR [95% CI] = 0.76 [0.43, 1.34]; p=0.244). There were no differences in graft rejection or failure in matched analysis (aHR = 0.937 [0.75, 1.17], p=0.339) between first-time keratopathies performing during the pandemic (Jan 2020–July 2022) and a corresponding pre-pandemic interval (2017–2019). The authors conclude that there was no significant increase in the risk of graft rejection or failure in patients with a prior keratoplasty history following Covid-19 diagnosis nor in any patients who had a new keratoplasty done during 2020–2022 when compared to a similar pre-pandemic interval.

Examining the influence of COVID-19 infection and pandemic restrictions on the risk of corneal transplant rejection or failure: a multicenter study.
Raiker R, Akosman S, Foos W, et al.
SEMINARS IN OPHTHALMOLOGY
2023;38(8):777–83.