New onset of acute uveitis following COVID-19 vaccination.

PURPOSE: This study reported 11 cases of new-onset acute uveitis following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination.

METHODS: This retrospective observational case study included 11 eyes of 11 patients with acute uveitis after the COVID-19 vaccination. We only included patients with new-onset uveitis. The medical records of the patients from January 2021 to January 2022 were reviewed.

RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 51.81 years, and all patients demonstrated anterior chamber reaction with keratic precipitates in the affected eye. The mean duration between vaccination and uveitis was 8.27 days. Seven patients developed uveitis after receiving the second dose of vaccination, and four developed uveitis after receiving the third dose of vaccination. Five patients showed posterior synechiae, and three patients showed hypopyon. After treatment with topical 1% prednisolone acetate eye drops and systemic prednisolone, inflammation was adequately controlled and quickly resolved.

CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 vaccination with messenger RNA and viral vector vaccines may cause acute anterior uveitis. Although initially severe, uveitis responded well to steroid therapy with no visual impairment.