OPTIC NERVE AND RETINAL LAYER MEASUREMENTS WITH OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY IN PCR POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE COVID-19 PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective and Aim Covid-19 targets all tissue and organ systems, not just the lungs. The optic nerve and retina with extensive microvascular nutrition are prone to viral involvement. Optical coherence tomography is a technology that provides detailed information about both optic nerve and retinal structure. The study was carried out to investigate possible changes in the optic nerve and retinal structure of patients with Covid-19 infection, dividing PCR positivity or negativity. Methods Thirty PCR positive Covid-19 patients with different ages and varying admission complaints were included in the study. Twenty-five Covid-19 patients who were PCR negative with similar age and gender were selected as a secondary group for comparison. All patients underwent ophthalmologic examination, including slit-lamp biomicroscopy, funduscopy, and OCT. These examinations were performed four weeks after the diagnosis of Covid-19 for full compliance with the mandatory isolation. In addition, RNFL, retinal thickness, and retinal volume measurements were performed. Results No statistical significance was observed in any parameter between the PCR positive or negative patients when the comparative analysis for both eyes in RFNL measurements. There was a significant difference in retinal thickness measurements between the PCR positive and negative groups regarding left eye central retinal thickness (p=0.047). However, there was no statistical difference in retinal volume measurements. Conclusion Retinal imaging with optical coherence tomography is a non-invasive, reproducible, and rapid technique in which subclinical or overt retinal pathologies can be detected during COVID-19. Therefore, management of COVID-19 patients should include retinal assessment with close follow-up, especially in patients with headaches and optic pain.