Choroidal Thickening in Patients with Coronavirus Disease – 2019

Abstract Objective: To evaluate choroidal thickness in the macular region of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Methods: Patients recovered from COVID-19 were included in this cross-sectional study. Macular imaging with an SD-OCT device was performed at least 2 weeks after recovery from systemic COVID-19 and choroidal thickness was measured as the main outcome measure.Results: Thirty-four subjects were included in this study. One patient was monocular and high-quality SD-OCT images were available for the remaining 67 eyes. Dilated choroidal vessels were observed in 55 eyes (82%) and retinal pigment epitheliopathy was noticeable in 4 eyes (6%); these findings resemble those of the pachychoroid spectrum. The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in our patients was 380.3±12.40 µm, which was significantly thicker than the previously reported SFCT in the normal population (310.7 ± 57.5 µm) (p<0.001).Conclusion: Patients with COVID-19 demonstrate remarkable changes in the choroid of the macular region.