# Multiple Evanescent White Dot Syndrome (MEWDS) Following COVID-19 Infection: A Presumed Recurrence

**Authors:** Mohammed Mehdi Shahid, Nikki N Neequaye, Amde Selassie Shifera

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.104405 · 2026-02-27

## TL;DR

A 29-year-old woman experienced recurring Multiple Evanescent White Dot Syndrome (MEWDS) after two COVID-19 infections, showing persistent symptoms and a possible link to long COVID.

## Contribution

This case report highlights a presumed recurrence of MEWDS following multiple COVID-19 infections, suggesting a potential connection to long COVID.

## Key findings

- MEWDS symptoms persisted for several months after the initial infection and worsened after a second infection.
- Fundus autofluorescence showed characteristic hyperautofluorescent spots consistent with MEWDS.
- Symptoms and lesions resolved spontaneously after weeks without treatment.

## Abstract

Multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) is a transient self-limiting likely post-viral inflammatory condition involving the outer retina and inner choroid and has been reported following several vaccinations and viral infections, including COVID-19. Photopsias are a common presenting symptom but rarely persist after the acute phase of MEWDS. We present a case of an otherwise healthy 29-year-old woman who developed persistent photopsias of the right eye following COVID-19 infection. These photopsias persisted for several months and worsened after a second COVID-19 infection, which is atypical of MEWDS. Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) demonstrated several characteristic punctate hyperautofluorescent spots. Her symptoms and fundus lesions resolved after a few weeks of diagnosis without treatment. COVID-19 has several reported ocular manifestations, including MEWDS. While most cases of MEWDS following COVID-19 infection are singular instances, our case was a presumed recurrence. MEWDS is often self-limiting, but in this case, symptoms persisted for several months, suggesting the possibility of long COVID, which is a poorly understood phenomenon.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** Multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MONDO:0971128), COVID-19 (MONDO:0100096)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** Photopsias (MESH:C000726607), viral infections (MESH:D014777), inflammatory condition (MESH:D007249), COVID-19 (MESH:D000086382), long COVID (MESH:D000094024), MEWDS (MESH:D000080363)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

2 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13033389/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13033389