Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team May 27, 2025 1 day, 22 hours, 53 minutes ago
Medical News: Silent Damage to Vision Post COVID
A new study conducted by researchers from top medical institutions in Poland and Italy has uncovered worrying signs that COVID-19 could be causing hidden damage to the eyes—specifically, to the microscopic blood vessels surrounding the optic nerve. These subtle changes may not be immediately noticeable but could lead to long-term visual problems, especially in patients who experienced inflammation and clotting issues during their illness.
COVID-19 Might Be Quietly Damaging Your Eyes Without You Even Realizing It
The researchers came from Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, the Voivodeship Hospital in Kielce, the Medical University of Lodz, the Jagiellonian University Medical College in Kraków, the University Hospital Kraków, the Poznan University of Medical Sciences, the University of Sassari in Italy, and the Medical University of Lublin. Their study aimed to explore the potential effects of COVID-19 on retinal microcirculation by using cutting-edge imaging tools.
How The Study Was Conducted
The study involved 63 patients who had been hospitalized for COVID-19-related bilateral pneumonia. Two months after recovery, they underwent a detailed eye examination using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), a non-invasive scan that maps blood flow in the eye’s fine vessels. Their results were compared with a control group of 43 healthy individuals who had never been infected with SARS-CoV-2.
This
Medical News report reveals that while no visible eye disorders were present, important differences were detected in the radial peripapillary capillaries (RPC)—tiny blood vessels near the optic nerve responsible for nourishing key layers of the retina. Researchers closely examined how these vessel densities related to oxygen therapy, systemic treatments like dexamethasone and remdesivir, and markers like D-dimer and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which indicate blood clotting and inflammation.
Key Findings That Raise Red Flags
The study found no major changes in vessel density (VD) among patients based on their use of remdesivir or dexamethasone, nor was there any difference related to hypertension. However, those who received oxygen therapy during their COVID-19 treatment had slightly higher average RPC vessel density than those who did not. This suggests oxygen may help protect the eye’s microcirculation by reducing hypoxia-related damage.
More concerning were the findings involving D-dimer and IL-6. Patients with higher D-dimer levels—a marker for blood clotting—showed reduced vessel density in the nasal and overall RPC areas. Those with elevated IL-6 levels—a key inflammation indicator—had lower vessel density in the inferior part of the RPC network. These associations strongly suggest that inflammation and clotting during COVID-19 can impair tiny blood vessels in the eye, even if no symptoms are felt.
Could These Changes Be Long Term?
Although the study didn’t detect any immediate visual impairment, the vessel changes observed might be early signs of microvascular damage that could lead to future complications. The eye’s RPC network is vital for supplying blood to the optic nerve and inner retina. If compromised, it could raise the risk for conditions like glaucoma or optic neuropathy over time.
The study also revealed a slight but notable decline in RPC vessel density with increasing age. This means older individuals may be more vulnerable to eye-related vascular damage post-COVID. Surprisingly, no correlation was found between vessel density and oxygen saturation at the time of testing, indicating that damage may have already occurred earlier during the illness.
Conclusions and Why It Matters
This study highlights the potential for long-term eye changes after COVID-19, particularly in patients who suffered from high inflammation and clotting during the infection. While no significant structural damage or vision loss was observed two months after recovery, the subtle microvascular impairments tied to IL-6 and D-dimer levels suggest that retinal vessel density may serve as an early warning sign of systemic vascular issues.
The authors conclude that even in the absence of visible symptoms, COVID-19 may trigger retinal microvascular changes, especially in those with severe inflammation or coagulation abnormalities. Long-term follow-up studies are needed to determine whether these changes lead to lasting visual impairment or optic nerve damage. In the meantime, it may be wise for recovering COVID-19 patients—especially those with high IL-6 or D-dimer levels—to undergo periodic eye examinations to monitor for subtle vascular effects.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Pharmacological Reports.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43440-025-00738-1
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-s-hidden-impact-on-eyes-unveiling-rare-retinal-conditions
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/sars-cov-2-also-targets-the-nervous-system-of-eyes-causing-ocular-neuroinflammation
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-infections-increase-the-risk-for-orbital-cellulitis
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
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