Publication date: Jun 12, 2025
Recent evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may induce subtle anatomical changes in the retina, detectable through advanced imaging techniques. This retrospective case-control study utilized optical coherence tomography (OCT) to assess medium-term retinal alterations in 55 healthcare workers, including 25 individuals with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 and 30 non-COVID-19 controls, all of whom had worked in COVID-19 clinical settings. Comprehensive ophthalmological examinations, including OCT imaging, were conducted six months after infection. The analysis considered demographic variables, comorbidities, COVID-19 severity, risk factors, and treatments received. Central macular thickness (CMT) was significantly increased in the post-COVID-19 group (p < 0. 05), with a weak but statistically significant positive correlation between CMT and disease severity (r = 0. 245, p < 0. 05), suggesting potential post-inflammatory retinal responses. No significant differences were observed in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) or ganglion cell complex (GCL + IPL) thickness. However, mild negative trends in inferior RNFL and average GCL+IPL thickness may indicate early neurodegenerative changes. Notably, patients with comorbidities exhibited a significant reduction in superior and inferior RNFL thickness, pointing to possible long-term neurovascular impairment. These findings underscore the value of OCT imaging in identifying subclinical retinal alterations following COVID-19 and highlight the need for continued surveillance in recovered patients, particularly those with pre-existing systemic conditions.
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| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Ganglion | neurovascular imaging |
| Oct | optical coherence tomography |
| Ophthalmological | post-COVID-19 retinal changes |
| Pcr | |
| Weak |