# Ocular Lesions Related to COVID‐19 and Its Vaccines

## TL;DR

This paper reviews eye-related issues caused by COVID-19 infection and vaccines, highlighting conjunctivitis as the most common and the generally good prognosis of these conditions.

## Contribution

The study systematically reviews and summarizes the types, incidence, and clinical implications of ocular lesions associated with both COVID-19 infection and its vaccines.

## Key findings

- Conjunctivitis is the most common ocular lesion caused by COVID-19 and may indicate severe pneumonia.
- Uveitis occurs in some patients, but the infection rate in uveitis patients is similar to the general population.
- Retinopathy caused by COVID-19 is mainly retinal microvascular disease with a good prognosis.

## Abstract

To review COVID‐19 infection and COVID‐19 vaccine‐related ocular lesions.

We carried out a systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library on COVID‐19 and ophthalmology and reviewed the incidence, specific manifestations, and risk factors for COVID‐19‐related eye diseases and the relationship between the detection of COVID‐19 in the conjunctiva and tears and eye involvement.

Conjunctivitis was the most common ocular lesion caused by 2019‐nCoV infection, followed by uveitis and retinopathy. Conjunctivitis can be the first manifestation of COVID‐19 infection and may be clinically related to the severity of pneumonia caused by COVID‐19. In particular, conjunctivitis that occurs after pneumonia suggests that the patient has severe systemic disease. COVID‐19 infection can cause uveitis, but the infection rate of COVID‐19 in patients with uveitis is similar to that of the general population. Patients with uveitis need to reduce the dosage of systemic hormones and discontinue biological agents after being infected with COVID‐19. Retinopathy caused by COVID‐19 infection is mainly manifested as retinal microvascular disease, and the prognosis is good. SARS‐CoV‐2 detection in the conjunctiva and tears has high sensitivity and is of great value for disease diagnosis. Eye lesions caused by the COVID‐19 vaccine, similar to other vaccines, have a low incidence and a good prognosis.

COVID‐19‐related ocular lesions are mainly manifested as conjunctivitis, uveitis, and retinal microvascular changes. These diseases are somewhat self‐limiting and have a good prognosis.