Light Sensitivity After Covid-19 And Photorefractive Keratectomy
Published 2022
- 40th Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PO505
| Type: ESCRS 2022 - Posters
| DOI:
10.82333/krd7-xp87
Authors:
Simon Paul Holland* 1
, Geoffrey Ching 1
, David Lin 1
, Niraj Mandal 1
, Amir Bin Ismail 1
, Gregory Moloney 1
1UBC,Vancouver,Canada
Purpose
Post-COVID syndrome manifests in a variety of ways, but light sensitivity has not yet been recognized as part of its symptomatology. This case series identifies nine laser refractive surgery patients with previous SARS-CoV-19 infections who reported severe light sensitivity that persisted for months postoperatively.
Setting
Laser vision clinic in Vancouver
Methods
Retrospective case series
Results
nine patients reported severe LS limiting ability to work that persisted for more than 3 months after photo refractive surgery. patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 infections reported photosensitivity worse in upgaze. All patients recovered after 7 month followup. Where cases were refractory to routine postoperative care, lifitegrast drops then gabapentin PO were trialed in a stepwise escalation of management.
Conclusions
Light sensitivity worse in upgaze that persists for months postoperatively in laser refractive surgery patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 is a newly-observed phenomenon. Although meningeal irritation and transient light sensitivity syndrome are in the differential diagnosis for this presentation, a corneal neuralgia-like pathophysiology may be responsible for these presentations.