OCTA evaluation of posterior ocular blood flow in patients after COVID-19 infection without pneumonia

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to demonstrate the changes in optic nerve and retinal microvascular structures with Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) in patients who had COVID-19 infection. METHODS: Prospective study. Retina, choroid and optic nerve head microvascular flow and vascular densities of both groups were measured by OCTA. RESULTS: OCTA measurements of 122 right eyes of a total of 122 patients, including 72 patients in the COVID-19 group and 50 patients in the control group, were included in the study. The Deep Capillary Plexus (DCP) Flow Area (FA) in the COVID-19 group was 1.42 ± 0.23 mm(2), in the control group was 1.50 ± 0.15 mm(2), Choriocapillary Plexus FA was 1.89 ± 0.04 mm(2) in the COVID-19 group, was 1.91 ± 0.05 mm(2) in the control group, and a statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (respectively; P = 0.03; P = 0.02). DCP Whole Vascular density (VD) values were 56.76 ± 4.16% in the COVID-19 group, 58.28 ± 3.88% in the control group; difference between the values was statistically significant (P = 0.04). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of optic nerve head flow areas and other parameters examined according to quadrants. CONCLUSIONS: Results show that the retinal microcirculation in subjects with mild disease is affected. Even if the disease is mild, patients may need to be followed up for retinal changes that may develop in the future.