Ocular Manifestations During COVID-19 Infection and Associated Symptoms After Vaccination

Abstract

<p>The objective of the current study is to identify the frequency of general and ocular manifestations in patients diagnosed with COVID-19, and to analyze the symptoms associated with vaccination. A questionnaire with 15 questions on ocular manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 and symptoms after vaccination was designed. Also, a descriptive analysis was carried out, including the use of percentages and frequencies for qualitative variables. Bivariate analyzes were performed according to the relationship between the variables of interest. 270 people participated in the study whose ages were as follows: under 18 years old, 10,7% (29 individuals); from 18 to 30 years old, 85,6% (231 individuals); from 31 to 40 years old, 3,3% (9 individuals), and older than 41 years, 0,4% (1 individuals). Of the total, 29,3% (79 individuals) was diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2. General and ocular manifestations were evaluated on a scale from 0 to 4, in which 1 corresponded to mild symptoms and 4 to disabling symptoms. The loss of smell and taste was reported as incapacitating in the 7,03% (19), followed by headache in the 5,18% (14 individuals). Regarding ocular manifestations, ocular pain obtained a percentage of 4,44% (12 individuals) in scale 3, followed by sensitivity to light in 6,29% (17 individuals) in scale 2. Reported ocular symptoms mainly occurred between 1 to 3 days in 12,6% (34 individuals). 95,6% (258 individuals) of the surveyed people were vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. The following were the more frequently systemic symptoms reported as disabling after vaccination: headache, in the 8,5% (23 individuals), followed by muscle pain in the 8,1% (22 individuals). Within the ocular manifestations, there was a prevalence of itching in the 1,4% (4 individuals), followed by ocular dryness, in the 1,1% (3 individuals). These manifestations presented mainly between 1 to 3 days after vaccination in the 40% (108 individuals) of the participants. As conclusions, although vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 has been effective, positive cases persist, in which the more frequently reported symptoms have been loss of smell and taste, headache, and runny nose; additionally, incapacitating eye pain has been reported. Regarding the symptoms presented after vaccination, muscle pain, headache and itchy eyes stand out.</p>