Optical Coherence Tomography Insights into Retinal Atrophic Changes in COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Analysis with Healthy Controls
Mohammadreza Badie1 *
- Poostchi Ophthalmology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz,
Iran.
Abstract: this cross-sectional survey aims to explore optical coherence tomography (OCT)
findings in individuals with COVID-19 in comparison to a control group of healthy individuals
Methods: a total of 164 subjects participated in this study, including COVID-19 patients
categorized into three severity groups: outpatients (30 patients), general ward admissions (30
patients), and intensive care unit admissions (19 patients). Additionally, 85 healthy participants
served as controls. All subjects underwent ophthalmological examinations and were assessed
using macular OCT, optic nerve head OCT, and retinal nerve fiber layer OCT
Results: Comparable basic and clinical characteristics were observed between the COVID-19
and control groups, except for age. Analysis revealed a significant decreasing trend in macular
outer plexiform layer thickness with increasing COVID-19 severity (0.822±0.022 μm in
outpatients, 0.814±0.010 μm in general ward admissions, and 0.785±0.012 μm in ICU
admissions, compared to 0.832±0.008 μm in healthy controls; p=0.006). No significant
differences were observed in other OCT parameters between COVID-19 patients and controls.
Conclusion: The study suggests that COVID-19 may contribute to atrophic changes in the retina,
as evidenced by a significant decline in macular outer plexiform layer thickness, particularly in
severe cases. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and clinical
implications of these findings.
