A new study suggests that Covid-19 may cause damage to the eyes in very severe patients.
For the study, published in the journal Radiology, researchers reviewed magnetic resonance imaging of 129 patients present with true Covid-19 in France between March 4 and May 1.
Advanced imaging tests showed that nine of the 129 (7%) patients had one or several irregularities at the back of the eye. The anomalies could cause damage or obstruction of blood vessels, small swellings in the eye or disturbances in nerve fibers.
All but one of the patients affected had damage in all eyes.
However, due to the lack of a “systematic ophthalmological examination” of patients in the ICU, researchers were limited by data and could not link their radiographic findings to visual changes.
Researchers believe these findings could be caused by widespread bleeding in small vessels and an enzyme disorder that protects the eye from damage. They also suggest that the detection may be linked to increased pressure in the eyes caused by positioning ICU patients face-down (prone position) while on mechanical ventilation.
Further research is needed to find out exactly what causes eye damage in these emergency patients and how this damage changes over time, the researchers said.
But the current study suggests that doctors should consider screening patients with true Covid-19 for ocular problems.
“Our data support the need for screening and follow-up of patients to provide appropriate treatment and management management of potentially serious ophiologics,” the authors said.