Evaluation of ocular manifestations in children born to mothers infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE:To evaluate ocular findings in children born to mothers who were infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during pregnancy.
METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted in Brasília, Brazil, between October 2020 and 2021. Children born to mothers with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy were included and compared with a control group of nonexposed children. All participants underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination performed by pediatric ophthalmologists, including assessment of ocular motility, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, cycloplegic refraction, intraocular pressure measurement, central corneal pachymetry, indirect ophthalmoscopy, and retinal imaging. Maternal and neonatal clinical data were also collected. Ocular parameters were compared between the exposed and control groups.
RESULTS: A total of 84 children were evaluated, including 70 exposed to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection and 14 nonexposed controls. The mean gestational age was 38.3±1.8 weeks, and the mean birth weight was 3,192±492 g. No significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of ocular motility, anterior or posterior segment findings, intraocular pressure, central corneal thickness, or refractive status. Isolated findings, including epicanthus and congenital ptosis, were observed in a small number of children but were not significantly associated with maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection.
CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective cohort, no significant ocular abnormalities were identified in children exposed in utero to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with nonexposed controls. However, the relatively small and unbalanced control group limits the strength of these findings, which should not be interpreted as evidence that maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection does not affect ocular development. Larger prospective studies with adequately sized and balanced comparison groups are warranted to further investigate the potential ocular effects of prenatal SARS-CoV-2 exposure.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Pregnancy; Infants; Ocular findings; Vertical transmission; Ophthalmology

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