Abstract
ABSTRACT Purpose As ophthalmic side effects of messenger RNA (mRNA)-based COVID-19 vaccination are not well understood, it is crucial to document and report such instances should they occur. Methods In this observational case series, we report nine patients (55.6% male, mean age 58.9) who received either the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) or mRNA-1273 (Moderna) COVID-19 vaccinations from January to June of 2021, and presented with symptoms of keratitis within 14 days. All patients underwent slit-lamp examination and histories were taken. Results Most subjects (66.7%) had a history of corneal inflammatory diseases and resolved under antiviral and/or steroidal treatment. Patients who reported symptoms after their second vaccine dose presented earlier than those who reported symptoms after the first dose (mean 4.4 days vs 10.5 days, respectively). Conclusions The immunological reaction following mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccinations may trigger new-onset or reactivation of keratitis, though causality cannot be proven. Despite its rarity, clinicians should be aware of this possible complication and be prepared to treat.
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