COVID-19, Vaccines, and Retinal Vascular Disease - Takeaways - MDSpire

COVID-19, Vaccines, and Retinal Vascular Disease

A global systematic review of 173 studies found differing associations between COVID-19 infection and vaccination and retinal vascular events, with retinal artery occlusion more common after infection and retinal vein occlusion more common after vaccination.

  • By

  • Nirojini Sivachandran, MD, PhD, FRCSC

  • May 14, 2026

  • 2 min

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  • 1

    A systematic review of 173 studies found differing associations between COVID-19 infection and vaccination and retinal vascular events.

  • 2

    Retinal artery occlusion was more common after COVID-19 infection, while retinal vein occlusion was more common after vaccination.

  • 3

    The mRNA vaccine platform was linked to a higher rate of ocular adverse events compared to other vaccine types.

  • 4

    The pooled relative risk for retinal vein occlusion was found to be 2.4, but results were statistically inconclusive.

  • 5

    Retina physicians should consider retinal vein occlusion and white dot syndrome in patients with COVID-19 infection or vaccination.

Original Source(s)

COVID-19, Vaccines, and Retinal Vascular Disease

  • by Nirojini Sivachandran, MD, PhD, FRCSC

  • May 14, 2026

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