Report analyzes COVID-19 vaccines in inherited retinal degenerations

In a brief report, researchers found that COVID-19 vaccination in patients with inherited retinal degenerations (IRD) appears safe and has similar rates of ocular side effects found in the general population.

Since many patients with IRD suffer from anxiety and fear of the degenerative process worsening, researchers speculated that this population may be hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.

A survey of 500 Italian patients affected by IRD found that only a small percentage did receive no vaccination against COVID-19 (12.2%) due to various reasons, such as fear and caregiver unavailability.

Of the remaining 87.8% who received their first dose of vaccine, 30% complained of side effects, none of which were serious. The researchers noted that the side effect rate was not different than the general population.

Reference
Vingolo EM. COVID-19 Vaccines in Inherited Retinal Degenerations (IRD), Fears, Ideas and Real Interactions. Clin Ophthalmol. 2022;16:1413-1417. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S358558. PMID: 35529953; PMCID: PMC9075903.