Assessment of the retina and choroid in recovered COVID-19 patients using optical coherence tomography | ||
| International Journal of Medical Arts | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 20 October 2025 | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ijma.2025.398803.2208 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Mahmoud Sedky Mohammad Sayed Ahmad* 1; Abubakr Mohammad Farid Abulnaga2; Ahmad El sayed Hodeeb2 | ||
| 1Kafr El Sheikh Ophthalmology Center | ||
| 2Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar university, Cairo | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Abstract Background: The long-term impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the posterior segment of the eye remains under investigation. Although ocular surface manifestations have been documented, data regarding structural retinal and choroidal changes are limited. Aim: This study aimed to assess potential subclinical structural alterations in the macula, optic disc, and choroid in recovered COVID-19 patients using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Patients and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted involving 90 eyes of 45 post-COVID-19 patients and 90 eyes of 45 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Participants were examined at 6- and 12-months post-recovery. Structural parameters, including central macular thickness (CMT), ganglion cell complex thickness (GCCT), retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT), and choroidal thickness (ChT), were evaluated using swept-source OCT. Patients were further categorized into mild, moderate, and severe subgroups based on initial disease severity. OCT parameters were compared between COVID-19 and control groups, and among the severity-based subgroups. Results: Recovered COVID-19 patients demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in CMT (253.61 ± 24.25 µm; p = 0.015), average GCCT (95.12 ± 5.54 µm; p < 0.001), and average RNFLT (99.87 ± 9.22 µm; p = 0.035) compared to controls. Subfoveal ChT showed a non-significant decrease (341 ± 64.51 µm; p = 0.537). Macular thickness and average GCCT were significantly lower in the severe subgroup than in the mild and moderate subgroups during both initial and follow-up assessments. One case of post-COVID type 2 choroidal neovascularization (CNV) was observed. Conclusion: COVID-19 infection is associated with subclinical reductions in macular and optic nerve parameters, particularly in severe cases, although choroidal thickness generally remains unaffected. Most patients, however, do not exhibit overt structural abnormalities on OCT | ||
| Keywords | ||
| SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; OCT; Central macular thickness | ||
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