Journal of International Medical Research (Jul 2024)

Optic nerve head alterations after COVID-19: an optical coherence tomography angiography-based longitudinal study

  • Mojtaba Abrishami,
  • Kiana Hassanpour,
  • Kia Bayat,
  • Seyedeh Maryam Hosseini,
  • Nasibeh Amini,
  • Majid Abrishami,
  • Parham Sayyah Ensan,
  • Hamid Reza Heidarzadeh

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/03000605241263236
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 52

Abstract

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Objective To evaluate longitudinal changes in peripapillary vessel density (VD) following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) using optical coherence tomography angiography. Methods As part of a prospective longitudinal observational study, we studied healthy individuals with a history of mild COVID-19 confirmed via real-time polymerase chain reaction. After recovery, we used the Optovue RTVue XR Avanti machine to perform optic nerve head (ONH) imaging. We also assessed the VD of all vessels and of small vessels in the disc and the radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) network at 1 and 3 months post-recovery. Results We included 17 patients (34 eyes; mean age: 36.9 ± 10.2 years, range: 24–62 years) who had recovered from COVID-19. No changes were observed in the ONH parameters. However, there was a noticeable trend of increased small vessel VD values in the RPC. These increases were significant for the peripapillary whole, superior hemifield, inferior-temporal, temporal-superior, and superior-temporal small vessels. Moreover, the evaluation of all vessel VD values in the RPC revealed a significant decrease in the inside disc and a significant increase in a grid-based inferior region. Conclusion COVID-19 may affect VD of the RPC in the ONH, and should be considered in ONH evaluations.