Central retinal vein occlusion and occlusive vasculopathy at macula in a patient with recent COVID-19 infection

Abstract

We described a post-COVID-19 patient who presented with central retinal vein occlusion and macular ischemia. A 50-year-old male presented with decreased vision for a month in his right eye (RE). The patient had no systemic risk factors for vascular disease but recent COVID-19 infection. Fundus examination revealed dense intraretinal dot hemorrhages especially at macula and ischemia-related retinal whitening in the posterior pole in RE. Expanding of foveal avascular zone was also detected in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) sections. After systemic steroid therapy, subretinal fluid resolved but visual acuity did not increase. Depending on the fundus fluorescein angiography and OCTA findings, clinical picture was compatible with previous central retinal vein occlusion with superimposed occlusive vasculopathy at macula. COVID-19 patients with visual problems must be considered with care in regard to thrombotic retinal diseases.

Keywords

• covid-19
• immune complex
• inflammation
• ischemia
• retinal vasculitis