Delhi: Keep an eye out for post-Covid danger

NEW DELHI: If you suffered from Covid-19 in the past and now have vision-related problems, be watchful.
The vision could be affected due to fungal infection inside the eye. Ophthalmologists at Centre for Sight and Shroff Eye Centre—two major chains of hospitals providing eye care in Delhi—say they have come across five patients who suffered significant damage to the retina due to fungal infection post-Covid. Two patients had fungal infection in both eyes.

Dr Ritesh Narula, a senior consultant ophthalmologist at Centre for Sight, said the first such case was detected by them in June when a 30-year-old man, who had recovered from severe Covid-19 few days ago, reported to their centre with blurring of vision in both eyes.
“Eye examination showed yellowish fluffy lesion on the retina — the innermost layer of the eye. We took a sample of the vitreous, gel-like substance that accounts for 80% of the volume of the eye, for a biopsy that confirmed fungal infection,” he added.
According to Dr Narula, they had to conduct a surgical procedure on an urgent basis to remove the fluid of the eye and inject anti-fungal inside to salvage the 30-year-old’s vision. “He has 70% to 75% vision now,” the doctor said.
Later, Shroff Eye Centre also picked up similar cases. Patients suffering from fungal infection of the eye included a 62-year-old man with no comorbidities presented who came with complaints of floaters and decreased vision in the right eye for one month. “He was treated for severe Covid-19 disease two months ago. He was kept on oxygen and treated with antibiotics and antivirals,” Dr Daraius Shroff, medical director at Shroff Eye Centre said. He added that another patient who came with a similar problem was a 67-year-old doctor.
“Few other patients have also been diagnosed with fungal infection of the eye post-Covid. The main reason behind this is prolonged ICU admission to manage Covid-19 related complications and the administration of steroids, which lower immunity and increase the risk of opportunistic fungal infection,” Dr Shroff said. He added that “while the treatment or hospitalisation cannot be avoided, it is important to watch out for vision-related problems for early treatment.”
Dr Mahipal Sachdev, chairman of Centre for Sight group of hospitals, said, fungal infection in the eye is an uncommon, but potentially devastating condition in which pathogens reach the eye via the bloodstream. “It is important to recognise early signs of this so that prompt and aggressive therapy can be initiated. It is also important for all ophthalmologists to be aware of this post-Covid entity and hold back additional oral and steroid therapy to avoid worsening of infective entities, especially fungal infection in the eye,” he said.