Strabismus Can Develop After COVID-19 Diagnosis

>> Strabismus and double vision were the ophthalmological complaints reported after infection with the Coronavirus. With the pandemic caused by the new Coronavirus (COVID-19), there was a significant increase in adults who developed double vision and strabismus after infection with the virus. It is known that the virus has a preference for the neurological system, potentially causing inflammation in some cranial nerves responsible for eye movements, which can lead to ocular misalignment and consequent diplopia, known as double vision. A study published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry analyzed 236,379 patients, most of whom were American, and found that 34% of them were diagnosed with neurological or psychiatric disorders in the six months following infection. According to ophthalmologist Hanna Teodoro from the Hospital de Olhos de Vitória, the most affected nerve in these cases of infection is the abducens nerve (sixth cranial nerve), responsible for moving the eye outward, towards the ear, but it can also affect other nerves that control the eye muscles. "What happens is that with the involvement of the sixth cranial nerve, the patient will present convergent strabismus, which is the inward deviation, and horizontal double vision, which is when one image becomes two, side by side," the doctor explained. Hanna shared good news that fortunately, in most cases, strabismus improves spontaneously, but if it persists for a longer time, some intervention may be necessary, which includes treatment with botulinum toxin or surgery. The doctor left a warning message for infected patients. "After the isolation period ends (10 days after the onset of symptoms or PCR and without symptoms for 3 days), it is very important to seek an ophthalmologist for a complete eye examination, and if experiencing symptoms of double vision, to consult a specialist in Strabismus," she said.