Anterior uveitis onset after bnt162b2 vaccination: is this just a coincidence?

• Main Authors: Giulia Renisi, Andrea Lombardi, Massimo Stanzione, Alessandro Invernizzi, Alessandra Bandera, Andrea Gori
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-09-01
• Series: International Journal of Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Uveitis; BNT162b2 vaccine; SARS-CoV-2; Adverse event
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971221005919

Background: Uveitis is a vision-threatening inflammation and is considered an ophthalmic emergency. It generally arises as a result of autoimmune conditions, infections, or ocular trauma, but it may also occur as an isolated disorder. Over the past decades, several cases of vaccine-associated uveitis have been described, with the hepatitis B virus vaccine being the leading cause. Clinical case: A case of anterior uveitis in a 23-year-old male, with onset 14 days after the second dose of BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine, is reported here. Initial symptoms were pain, photophobia, and red eye. Ocular examination showed pericheratic and conjunctival hyperaemia, posterior synechiae, and anterior chamber cells ± keratic precipitates in the lower quadrants. The posterior segment did not show any alteration, and optical coherence tomography ruled out the presence of cystoid macular oedema. After a 10-day treatment course of topical steroids and cycloplegic eye drops, the ocular inflammatory signs disappeared and visual acuity was completely restored. Even if causality remains presumed, a warning should be given to physicians about the possibility of eye inflammation following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.