{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,14]],"date-time":"2026-08-14T16:43:46Z","timestamp":1786725826491,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":53,"publisher":"Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)","issue":"12","content-domain":{"domain":["lww.com","ovid.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,12]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Systemic coronavirus disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus has had several ocular consequences. Many vaccines have been developed against the disease, with adverse events being reported as well. Various ocular adverse events secondary to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines have also featured in literature in recent times. This review features the reported corneal-related effects of COVID infection and vaccination. These include direct effects on corneal grafts and unilateral or bilateral corneal melts. The compilation of reported experiences from across the world in this systematic review will help clinicians recognize the possible presentations, pathogenesis, and management of the same.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4103\/ijo.ijo_765_23","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,20]],"date-time":"2023-11-20T00:00:37Z","timestamp":1700438437000},"page":"3595-3599","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/lww.0000000000001000","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["COVID and COVID vaccine\u2013related corneal morbidity: A review"],"prefix":"10.4103","volume":"71","author":[{"given":"Navneet","family":"Sidhu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Dr. R. P. Center for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Murugesan","family":"Vanathi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dr. R. P. Center for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Noopur","family":"Gupta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dr. R. P. Center for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Radhika","family":"Tandon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dr. R. P. Center for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"276","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"R1-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"257","DOI":"10.1007\/s15010-020-01524-2","article-title":"Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in conjunctival secretions from patients without ocular symptoms","volume":"49","author":"Li","year":"2021","journal-title":"Infection"},{"key":"R2-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"494","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ophtha.2020.08.029","article-title":"Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 in tears of patients with moderate to severe COVID-19","volume":"128","author":"Arora","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ophthalmology"},{"key":"R3-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6588","DOI":"10.1002\/jmv.27214","article-title":"Safety of COVID-19 vaccines","volume":"93","author":"Al Khames Aga","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Med Virol"},{"key":"R4-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e543","DOI":"10.1111\/jdv.17340","article-title":"Purpuric lesions on the eyelids developed after BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine: Another piece of SARS-CoV-2 skin puzzle?","volume":"35","author":"Mazzatenta","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol"},{"key":"R5-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"SI90","DOI":"10.1093\/rheumatology\/keab345","article-title":"Herpes zoster following BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases: A case series","volume":"60","author":"Furer","year":"2021","journal-title":"Rheumatology (Oxford)"},{"key":"R6-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1070","DOI":"10.1097\/ICO.0000000000002761","article-title":"Keratoplasty rejection after the BNT162b2 messenger RNA vaccine","volume":"40","author":"Wasser","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cornea"},{"key":"R7-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e212471","DOI":"10.1001\/jamaophthalmol.2021.2471","article-title":"Bilateral acute macular neuroretinopathy after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2","volume":"139","author":"Book","year":"2021","journal-title":"JAMA Ophthalmol"},{"key":"R8-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101136","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajoc.2021.101136","article-title":"Acute-onset central serous retinopathy after immunization with COVID-19 mRNA vaccine","volume":"23","author":"Fowler","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep"},{"key":"R9-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e146","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jemermed.2021.07.034","article-title":"Bilateral retinal detachments in a healthy 22-year-old woman after moderna SARS-COV-2 vaccination","volume":"61","author":"Subramony","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Emerg Med"},{"key":"R10-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijid.2021.07.035","article-title":"Anterior uveitis onset after bnt162b2 vaccination: Is this just a coincidence?","volume":"110","author":"Renisi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Infect Dis"},{"key":"R11-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"741","DOI":"10.1080\/09273948.2021.1949478","article-title":"Panuveitis following vaccination for COVID-19","volume":"29","author":"Mudie","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ocul Immunol Inflamm"},{"key":"R12-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"753","DOI":"10.1080\/09273948.2021.1957123","article-title":"Bilateral multifocal choroiditis following COVID-19 vaccination","volume":"29","author":"Goyal","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ocul Immunol Inflamm"},{"key":"R13-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"490","DOI":"10.18502\/jovr.v16i3.9443","article-title":"COVID-19 recombinant mRNA vaccines and serious ocular inflammatory side effects: Real or coincidence?","volume":"16","author":"Maleki","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Ophthalmic Vis Res"},{"key":"R14-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1007\/s00415-021-10647-x","article-title":"Acute bilateral optic\/chiasm neuritis with longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis in longstanding stable multiple sclerosis following vector-based vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2","volume":"269","author":"Helmchen","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Neurol"},{"key":"R15-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"302","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaapos.2021.05.003","article-title":"Acute abducens nerve palsy following COVID-19 vaccination","volume":"25","author":"Reyes-Capo","year":"2021","journal-title":"J AAPOS"},{"key":"R16-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e11","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(21)00872-2","article-title":"Bilateral superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis, ischaemic stroke, and immune thrombocytopenia after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination","volume":"397","author":"Bayas","year":"2021","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"R17-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1404","DOI":"10.3390\/vaccines9121404","article-title":"Ocular manifestations after receiving COVID-19 vaccine: A systematic review","volume":"9","author":"Lee","year":"2021","journal-title":"Vaccines (Basel)"},{"key":"R18-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"594","DOI":"10.1038\/s41586-020-2814-7","article-title":"COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b1 elicits human antibody and TH1 T cell responses","volume":"586","author":"Sahin","year":"2020","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"R19-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1920","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMoa2022483","article-title":"An mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2-preliminary report","volume":"383","author":"Jackson","year":"2020","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"key":"R20-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"583","DOI":"10.1038\/s41586-020-2607-z","article-title":"Single-shot Ad26 vaccine protects against SARS-CoV-2 in rhesus macaques","volume":"586","author":"Mercado","year":"2020","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"R21-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e2183","DOI":"10.1002\/rmv.2183","article-title":"Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 spike (S) protein based vaccine candidates: State of the art and future prospects","volume":"31","author":"Arashkia","year":"2021","journal-title":"Rev Med Virol"},{"key":"R22-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"582","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2016.00582","article-title":"Allorecognition by T lymphocytes and allograft rejection","volume":"7","author":"Marino","year":"2016","journal-title":"Front Immunol"},{"key":"R23-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1097\/ICO.0000000000002556","article-title":"Acute corneal endothelial graft rejection with coinciding COVID-19 infection","volume":"40","author":"Jin","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cornea"},{"key":"R24-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"985","DOI":"10.4103\/ijo.IJO_3701_20","article-title":"Acute graft rejection in a COVID-19 patient: Co-incidence or causal association?","volume":"69","author":"Singh","year":"2021","journal-title":"Indian J Ophthalmol"},{"key":"R25-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e1","DOI":"10.1097\/ICO.0000000000002882","article-title":"Presumed DMEK graft rejection associated with COVID-19 infection","volume":"41","author":"Moriyama","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cornea"},{"key":"R26-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101138","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajoc.2021.101138","article-title":"Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) rejection following COVID-19 infection: A case report","volume":"23","author":"Bitton","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep"},{"key":"R27-20260511","first-page":"e16725","article-title":"Ipsilateral zoster ophthalmicus post COVID-19 vaccine in healthy young adults","volume":"13","author":"Thimmanagari","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"R28-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e245792","DOI":"10.1136\/bcr-2021-245792","article-title":"Reactivation of herpes simplex keratitis following vaccination for COVID-19","volume":"14","author":"Richardson-May","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMJ Case Rep"},{"key":"R29-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1629","DOI":"10.1097\/ICO.0000000000002844","article-title":"Bilateral immune-mediated keratolysis after immunization with SARS-CoV-2 recombinant viral vector vaccine","volume":"40","author":"Khan","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cornea"},{"key":"R30-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1953","DOI":"10.4103\/ijo.IJO_1028_21","article-title":"Corneal graft rejection after COVID-19 vaccination","volume":"69","author":"Ravichandran","year":"2021","journal-title":"Indian J Ophthalmol"},{"key":"R31-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"625","DOI":"10.1097\/ICL.0000000000000840","article-title":"Bilateral EK rejection after COVID-19 vaccine","volume":"47","author":"Abousy","year":"2021","journal-title":"Eye Contact Lens"},{"key":"R32-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"319","DOI":"10.4103\/ijo.IJO_2539_21","article-title":"Stromal rejection in penetrating keratoplasty following COVID-19 vector vaccine (Covishield) - A case report and review of literature","volume":"70","author":"Rajagopal","year":"2022","journal-title":"Indian J Ophthalmol"},{"key":"R33-20260511","first-page":"e19084","article-title":"Acute endothelial graft rejection following COVID-19 infection","volume":"13","author":"Behera","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"R34-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e445","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jfo.2021.06.001","article-title":"Acute corneal endothelial graft rejection following COVID-19 vaccination","volume":"44","author":"Crnej","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Fr Ophtalmol"},{"key":"R35-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"893","DOI":"10.1136\/bjophthalmol-2021-319338","article-title":"Characteristics of endothelial corneal transplant rejection following immunisation with SARS-CoV-2 messenger RNA vaccine","volume":"105","author":"Phylactou","year":"2021","journal-title":"Br J Ophthalmol"},{"key":"R36-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3757","DOI":"10.4103\/ijo.IJO_2515_21","article-title":"Acute graft rejection in a high-risk corneal transplant following COVID-19 vaccination: A case report","volume":"69","author":"Parmar","year":"2021","journal-title":"Indian J Ophthalmol"},{"key":"R37-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"669","DOI":"10.1097\/ICO.0000000000002980","article-title":"Five cases of corneal graft rejection after recent COVID-19 vaccinations and a review of the literature","volume":"41","author":"Molero-Senosiain","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cornea"},{"key":"R38-20260511","first-page":"201","article-title":"Acute bilateral descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty graft rejection after the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine","volume":"15","author":"Forshaw","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int Med Case Rep J"},{"key":"R39-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.1097\/ICO.0000000000002878","article-title":"Acute corneal transplant rejection After COVID-19 vaccination","volume":"41","author":"Shah","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cornea"},{"key":"R40-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1274","DOI":"10.3390\/vaccines9111274","article-title":"Dual corneal-graft rejection after mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2) for COVID-19 during the first six months of follow-up: Case report, state of the art and ethical concerns","volume":"9","author":"Nioi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Vaccines (Basel)"},{"key":"R41-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"502","DOI":"10.1097\/ICO.0000000000002970","article-title":"Corneal graft rejection after inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine: Case report","volume":"41","author":"Sim\u00e3o","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cornea"},{"key":"R42-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"257","DOI":"10.1097\/ICO.0000000000002886","article-title":"Acute corneal transplant rejection after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 mRNA-1273 vaccination","volume":"41","author":"Yu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cornea"},{"key":"R43-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1817","DOI":"10.4103\/ijo.IJO_66_22","article-title":"A case of acute endothelial corneal transplant rejection following immunization with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 coronavirus vaccine","volume":"70","author":"Nahata","year":"2022","journal-title":"Indian J Ophthalmol"},{"key":"R44-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1537","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-6143.2008.02285.x","article-title":"Aqueous humor alloreactive cell phenotypes, cytokines and chemokines in corneal allograft rejection","volume":"8","author":"Flynn","year":"2008","journal-title":"Am J Transplant"},{"key":"R45-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104","DOI":"10.1038\/s41541-021-00369-6","article-title":"Distinguishing features of current COVID-19 vaccines: Knowns and unknowns of antigen presentation and modes of action","volume":"6","author":"Heinz","year":"2021","journal-title":"NPJ Vaccines"},{"key":"R46-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"108455","DOI":"10.1016\/j.exer.2021.108455","article-title":"Systemic diseases and the cornea","volume":"204","author":"Shah","year":"2021","journal-title":"Exp Eye Res"},{"key":"R47-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"888","DOI":"10.3109\/08820139.2014.910024","article-title":"Immunological aspects of corneal transplant","volume":"43","author":"Kumar","year":"2014","journal-title":"Immunol Invest"},{"key":"R48-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101359","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajoc.2022.101359","article-title":"Covid-19 vaccination and possible link to Herpes zoster","volume":"25","author":"Lazzaro","year":"2022","journal-title":"Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep"},{"key":"R49-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1270","DOI":"10.1007\/s10900-020-00920-x","article-title":"Prevalence and associated risk factors of mortality among COVID-19 patients: A meta-analysis","volume":"45","author":"Noor","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Community Health"},{"key":"R50-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"958","DOI":"10.1093\/jmcb\/mjaa054","article-title":"COVID-19 and diabetes: The contributions of hyperglycemia","volume":"12","author":"Wang","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Mol Cell Biol"},{"key":"R51-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"807","DOI":"10.2337\/db18-1172","article-title":"Opposing effects of neuropilin-1 and -2 on sensory nerve regeneration in wounded corneas: Role of Sema3C in ameliorating diabetic neurotrophic keratopathy","volume":"68","author":"Lee","year":"2019","journal-title":"Diabetes"},{"key":"R52-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"138","DOI":"10.1016\/j.visres.2017.03.002","article-title":"Diabetic complications in the cornea","volume":"139","author":"Ljubimov","year":"2017","journal-title":"Vision Res"},{"key":"R53-20260511","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e30","DOI":"10.2337\/dc16-2320","article-title":"Association between diabetes, level of glycemic control, and eye infection: A cohort study","volume":"40","author":"Ansari","year":"2017","journal-title":"Diabetes Care"}],"container-title":["Indian Journal of Ophthalmology"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ovid.com\/10.4103\/IJO.IJO_765_23","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,14]],"date-time":"2026-08-14T16:26:11Z","timestamp":1786724771000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ovid.com\/10.4103\/IJO.IJO_765_23"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,20]]},"references-count":53,"journal-issue":{"issue":"12","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4103\/ijo.ijo_765_23","relation":{},"ISSN":["0301-4738","1998-3689"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0301-4738","type":"print"},{"value":"1998-3689","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,20]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2023-03-20","name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2023-07-30","name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}]}}