Sequential orbital apex syndrome following the COVID-19 vaccination: A case report

Abstract

Background: Many kinds of vaccines have been developed worldwide to bring the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to an end. We report a case of recurrent orbital apex syndrome following the first and third doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Case presentation: A 71-year-old woman presented with acute painless diplopia and visual disturbance for two days. She had received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine two weeks before. She showed decreased visual acuity and ophthalmoplegia in the right eye. An orbital magnetic resonance image (MRI) revealed a hyperintense lesion with enhanced bulging in the right cavernous sinus. Following the steroid pulse therapy, she fully recovered. However, six months after the first attack, painful ophthalmoplegia with decreased visual acuity recurred in her left eye after the booster vaccination for COVID-19. MRI also showed a well-enhanced hyperintense lesion in the left orbital apex. Fortunately, her visual acuity and ocular motility returned to normal after the steroid therapy. Conclusions: Immunologic reactions from COVID-19 vaccines may cause multiple cranial neuropathies. Diverse individual immunologic states should be considered before any kind of vaccine.

Keywords

• Orbital apex syndrome
• Diplopia
• Ophthalmoplegia
• COVID-19
• SARS-CoV-2
• Vaccination