Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Sep 06, 2025 4 hours, 58 minutes ago
Medical News: COVID-19 and Eye Health
Researchers from the Eye Hospital at the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University in Heilongjiang Province, China, have uncovered evidence that COVID-19 infection may quietly damage the tiny blood vessels inside the eyes. Their new retrospective study revealed concerning patterns of retinal microvascular changes in patients after coronavirus infection. This
Medical News report highlights how the virus can leave behind silent but potentially serious consequences that could affect vision.
COVID-19 Infection Linked to Hidden Eye Damage
How the study was carried out
The team reviewed the medical records of 3666 outpatients who visited the hospital between December 10, 2022, and January 31, 2023. From this large pool, they identified 41 patients with confirmed COVID-19 who also displayed signs of retinal microangiopathy. Advanced imaging techniques, including fundus photography and optical coherence tomography, were used to detect abnormalities in the retina.
Symptoms observed in patients
Out of the 41 patients, 27 reported blurred vision, while seven experienced dark shadows blocking their sight. A smaller number had eye discomfort, dryness, or pain. Doctors noted that even young patients with otherwise mild COVID-19 infections developed retinal problems. High reflection signals, which indicate microvascular damage, were found in more than 90 percent of cases in the ganglion cell layer of the retina. Other layers, such as the outer nuclear and outer plexiform layers, were also affected. Some patients showed disruptions in the delicate ellipsoid and interdigitation zones that are vital for visual clarity.
What doctors found through imaging
Fundus photography of several patients revealed visible problems such as cotton-wool spots, small retinal hemorrhages, venous swelling, and vascular twisting. These features are typically seen in diabetic retinopathy but were now appearing in COVID-19 patients. In a striking case, a 26-year-old man developed blurred vision just days after his infection. Imaging revealed venous engorgement and hemorrhages. Another patient, a 12-year-old girl, showed retinal lesions that improved after six months but still left lasting irregularities.
Why this matters
The study found that about 1.12 percent of outpatients had clear COVID-19-related retinal changes. However, the true rate is likely higher, as many subclinical cases may go unnoticed. The researchers warn that these eye findings may serve as an early warning sign of systemic microvascular injury caused by the virus. Since the retina offers a window into the body’s vascular health, ophthalmologists believe regular eye exams could help detect and monitor hidden complications of COVID-19.
Conclusion
This research adds to the growing body of evidence that COVID-19 is more than a respiratory disease. It can damage blood vessels throughout the body, including those in the eyes, and may increase the risk of lon
g-term visual problems. The findings also support the idea that SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers systemic vascular injury, possibly through inflammation, microthrombi, and endothelial dysfunction. Protecting eye health and recognizing these subtle retinal changes could become an important part of post-COVID care.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Current Eye Research.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02713683.2025.2551168
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-covid-19-news-chinese-study-discovers-that-sars-cov-2-increases-the-risk-for-developing-acute-angle-closure-glaucoma
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-news-turkish-study-shows-that-even-mild-sars-cov-2-infections-causes-changes-to-corneal-endothelium-and-slightly-to-corneal-curvature
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/sars-cov-2-can-infect-the-retinal-pigment-epithelium-and-impair-vision-over-time
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