Covid Vaccine And Corneal Graft Rejection

The emergence of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus at the end of 2019, had triggered an explosion of vaccine development. By 24 September 2020, a staggering number of vaccines (more than 200) had started preclinical development, of which 43 had entered clinical trials. Vaccines have been widely considered as part of the exit strategy to enable the return to previous patterns of working, schooling and socializing (1) Within less than a year time some very promising COVID-19 vaccines were developed at an unprecedented speed and are now being deployed via emergency use authorization for immunization 

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

We contacted 250 patients who had undergone corneal transplantation in last 5 years. Of them 217 patients responded following their 2 doses of Covid vaccine. We evaluated them based on a questionnaire for symptoms of graft rejection including Foreign body sensation, photophobia, Redness, blurry vision, discomfort and attendance in Eye emergency department for any concern 

Out of 217 patients 9 had undergone penetrating keratoplasty ,2 had undergone tectonic penetrating keratoplasty and 206 endothelial keratoplasty.197 patients had AstraZeneca (adenovirus vector vaccine: COVID-19 Vaccine (ChAdOx1-S [recombinant])) and 19 patients had Pfizer (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) and 1 patient had completely refused to have any vaccine. The mean interval between the two vaccine was 9 weeks and the range being 7 to 13 weeks. The telephonic appointment was 4-8 weeks following the second covid-19 vaccine. None of our patients complained of any symptoms of acute graft rejection.

 

None of our patients presented to eye clinic or eye emergency with symptoms or signs of graft rejection in the given time frame. And none of our patients were diagnosed anywhere else with graft rejection.