Long-lasting vision problems following mild cases of COVID-19 may stem from persistent inflammation and nerve damage, even as the results of standard eye examinations appear normal, according to a study today in Nature Communications.

Although less well-known than other long-COVID symptoms, ocular symptoms like pain, light sensitivity, blurred vision, and difficulty reading affect up to 31% to 35% of people with the condition, the study authors note. But this abnormal eye behavior can’t be detected by standard methods, making it difficult for patients to get a diagnosis or treatment.  

To better understand the eye problems that develop following a COVID-19 infection, researchers led by a team at Linköping University in Sweden examined 100 people who developed ocular symptoms persisting from three months to three years post-infection. The researchers compared their findings with 32 people who had had COVID-19 but didn’t develop eye symptoms.

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