Can Inactivated Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine Cause Bilateral Neurotrophic Keratopathy?

Abstract

Purpose: To present a case of bilateral neurotrophic keratopathy (NK) following an inactivated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine administration.

Methods: Case report.

Results: A 46-year-old female patient was referred to our cornea department with unhealing corneal epithelial defects in both eyes. The patient's complaints, including ocular redness, sensitivity to light and blurred vision, started 1 week after the second dose of CoronaVac^® vaccine and continued to increase for 2 months. Ophthalmological examination revealed mild ocular redness, epithelial defects in the central cornea, and decreased corneal sensitivity in both eyes. No pathology that could cause NK was detected in the patient's anamnesis and tests. Treatment including bandage contact lens application, autologous serum eye drops, preservative-free artificial tears, and oral doxycycline resulted in closure of the epithelial defect on the 10^th day, and on the 2-month follow-up visit, it was observed that corneal sensitivity had increased.

Conclusions: In the presented case, it is thought that bilateral NK may be associated with the vaccine due to the chronological relationship between the vaccine administration and the lack of any other explanatory etiology. A cure was achieved in a short time with appropriate treatment, and the increase in corneal sensitivity over time indicates that the corneal neuropathy was reversible. Nowadays, with the worldwide administration of COVID-19 vaccines, ophthalmologists should keep in mind that, although rare, NK manifestation may still be encountered after vaccination.