As we watch the ramp-up of COVID-19 vaccination, we can marvel at the ingenuity that brought these vital agents to market in under a year. But it also starkly underlines the importance of vaccines as a whole to society. Unfortunately, a decline in routine vaccination was among the unwelcome consequences of the pandemic lockdowns that began in March 2020, which significantly altered health care as we know it. Patient visits for routine and emergency care began to decrease.¹ This has resulted in a reduced rate of vaccinations for vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD) across the nation. 

For individuals 18 years and younger, vaccine rates have been down by as much as 30% compared to previous years, although the rate for newborns remained generally stable (with some variability for individual states).² On a global scale, the disruption to vaccine distribution programs and access has also been altered.³ The World Health Organization estimates that globally, 94 million children will not receive the measles vaccine because of COVID-related closures and decreased access to care. A recent report stated that measles cases in 2019 were the highest they have been since 1996, and are expected to rise.³ 

Fig. 1. At left, ocular involvement of herpes zoster with associated rash of the ocular adnexa and surrounding skin; above, classic presentation of herpes zoster. Click image to enlarge.

With the decrease in vaccine rates, both in the US and globally, there is increased potential for reemergence of VPD, particularly in children. VPDs have significant and wide-ranging systemic effects (including ocular manifestations) with the potential to be fatal, so the decrease in vaccine rates globally has significant ramifications for both at-risk individuals and health care providers.

This article provides an overview of the ocular manifestations of many VPDs so that we can be vigilant for them in appropriate patients. 

Ocular Signs of VPD

Pediatric vaccine-preventable diseases may present with ocular involvement, but more often will present with systemic signs or symptoms. Symptomatic patients usually present to the pediatrician, primary care practitioner or emergency medicine provider. Eye care providers (ECPs) in hospital or multidisciplinary settings may be more likely to encounter these cases as part of the patient care team, but sequelae of primary infections may present to ECPs in all settings, including community-based optometrists.

While the following conditions are rare in optometric practice, they might be considered in abnormal red eye presentations, or in cases where acute disease does not resolve with the typical treatment regimen. Providers may elect to add questions about vaccine history to intake questionnaires and consider VPDs when other systemic conditions present concurrently, especially rashes or persistent coughing.

Table 1. Ocular findings of vaccine-preventable diseases. Click image to enlarge.

Measles

This viral infection is highly transmissible due to its high R0 value and the trend for declining vaccine rates. There were several recorded outbreaks in the United States prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.⁵ Measles infection has an incubation period of nine to 10 days followed by systemic signs, which include high fever, cough and Koplik spots (blue-gray lesions on an erythematous base) with an eventual onset of the classic skin rash. 

Ocular manifestations include a non-purulent papillary conjunctivitis. Rarely, Koplik spots can be visualized on the conjunctiva. Keratitis leading to scarring and blindness can occur and is more likely in patients with poor vitamin A intake. Other reported ocular manifestations include subconjunctival hemorrhages, posterior uveitis and pigmentary retinopathy.^5-9 Measles-related posterior uveitis is characterized by disc swelling, arteriolar attenuation, diffuse retinal edema and scattered retinal hemorrhages with exudative stellate macular lesions. 

Fig. 2. Sectored red-eye presentation in a three-year-old. All pediatric red eyes, especially unusual presentations, should have a full vaccine history included in the work-up. Click image to enlarge.

Measles retinopathy is usually bilateral and occurs in immunocompetent patients. Upon resolution, signs such as disc pallor, peripapillary vascular sheathing and pigmentary changes result in a “salt and pepper” fundus appearance. In congenital cases, the electroretinogram (ERG) may be normal. In acquired cases, the ERG is reduced during active infection and can improve with time. Neuroimaging may show white matter abnormalities. Secondary outcomes of viral infection, such as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), have also been reported.^5-9 

A rare sequela of a mutant variant of measles relevant to all ECPs is subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE.) Patients are school-aged children whose primary infection occurred before age two. While the condition is rare, early SSPE mimics typical pediatric malingerers. Signs include painless vision loss and possibly chorioretinitis starting in the macula or posterior uveitis. Ocular findings are common and occur in up to 50% of cases. 

SSPE results in cognitive decline and eventually death. Visual symptoms and retinal findings precede neurologic findings by weeks to years. Associated findings of focal necrotizing retinitis, ground-glass retinal whitening, RPE mottling, papilledema, optic atrophy, retinal folds, retinal hemorrhages, serous detachments and occlusive vasculitis with minimal vitreous inflammation have all be described.^5-9

Mumps (Parotiditis)

Though primary infections of mumps are less common in the United States, sporadic outbreaks have been reported. The severity of the systemic illness is variable; prior to vaccine development 15% to 27% of infections were asymptomatic. After an incubation period of 12 to 25 days, patients develop parotiditis, fever, headache, muscle aches and malaise. Reported ocular signs include dacryoadenitis, follicular conjunctivitis, episcleritis, scleritis, keratitis, retinitis, optic neuritis, opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome and facial nerve palsy.^5,10-20

Rubella

This often presents to the eye care practitioner as a sequelae of a primary or congenital exposure. In primary cases, ocular signs are mild. Conjunctivitis is common, though central epithelial keratitis has also been reported. Fuchs’ heterochromic iridocyclitis—a unilateral uveitis with a triad of heterochromia, predisposition to cataract and glaucoma, and keratic precipitates—is associated with rubella infection. In congenital cases, severity is inversely related to gestational age at the time of maternal infection. 

The triad of congenital rubella syndrome includes auditory, cardiac and ocular defects, which occur in 30% to 40% of cases. Nuclear cataracts, microphthalmos and congenital glaucoma are more likely in the first trimester. The most common outcome is pigmentary retinopathy, which can occur when maternal exposure occurs before gestational age of 20 weeks. Rubella retinopathy is usually benign, non-progressive and visually insignificant, though rare complications such as hemorrhages and disc edema can reduce vision. 

Diphtheria

Once a leading cause of childhood death, widespread vaccine use has led to near eradication of diphtheria in the United States. As such, reports in the literature of ocular involvement are sparse but generally address two areas of concern: membranous conjunctivitis and nerve dysfunction secondary to toxic demyelination. Diphtheria conjunctivitis is described in the literature as both pseudomembranous and membranous, resulting from formation of a gray plaque of necrotic tissue. Though involvement of extra-respiratory sites is uncommon, this severe conjunctivitis can cause secondary problems such as symblepharon, conjunctival and corneal scarring, and other ocular surface irregularities. 

Tetanus

This anaerobic infection is generally a concern in emergency cases of penetrating ocular injuries. Clostridium tetani spores can germinate, leading to production of toxins that act on the nervous system, resulting in the well-known associated muscle rigidity.^5,26,27

Pertussis

Also known as whooping cough, this condition generally affects the eye in one of two ways. The most common ocular sign is a subconjunctival hemorrhage resulting from the characteristic cough. Less commonly, retinal hemorrhages have been reported, though it is essential in all pediatric cases involving retinal hemorrhages to fastidiously rule out non-accidental trauma. Although not currently employed as such, the conjunctiva has been proposed as a site for vaccine delivery.^{5,26,27,30,31} 

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

Vertical and contact transmissions of HPV are the most likely routes of ocular infections in children, though several routes exist, including sexual contact and autoinoculation. HPV is categorized into high risk and low risk subtypes; the former leads to anogenital and cervical cancers while the latter causes dysplasia that does not progress to cancer. HPV has been found in conjunctival and eyelid lesions such as inverted papillomas and pterygia. While both subtypes have been identified in ocular tissue, low-risk HPV is more commonly associated with ocular lesions.^5,6,33-39 

Meningococcus

Meningococcal disease earns its name due to its strong association with meningitis. While it is not the only organism which causes meningitis, Neisseria meningitidis is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in babies, children and adults. 

Pediatric cases of endophthalmitis without meningitis have also been reported. Other reported ocular signs include severe photophobia, hyperacute conjunctivitis, retinal and peripapillary hemorrhages, and optic nerve edema. Systemic signs can include fever, headache, neck stiffness, vomiting, lethargy and seizure. Meningococcal disease is potentially blinding and fatal and must be quickly treated both reactively and proactively. In these cases, immediate referral to emergency care is warranted.^5,40-46

Pneumococcus

In children, pneumococci are generally involved in cases of bacterial meningitis and acute otitis media, but cases of pneumococcal conjunctivitis, keratitis and endophthalmitis have been reported. Pneumococcus is found in one third of bacterial keratitis cases.^5,47-56

Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV)

Primary varicella infections have dropped dramatically since 1995, when the VZV vaccine was introduced, though reactivation of infections such as herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) can occur. Postherpetic neuralgia is less likely in children than adults. 

Primary VZV infections can cause eyelid lesions (Figure 1), conjunctivitis, episcleritis, keratitis and anterior uveitis. Retinitis, common in adults, is rare in children in primary infection, though congenital VZV infection can leave discrete white chorioretinal scars. After vaccination, mild non-infectious keratitis has been reported. 

Those who have had a primary VZV infection and those who received the vaccine are less likely to develop HZO. As is the case with adults, early anti-viral treatment, close follow-up and careful corneal management is important in pediatrics. Children who are immunocompromised or have systemic disease should be hospitalized and treated with IV antiviral therapy. Damage to ocular structures in the course of pediatric HZO can lead to deprivational amblyopia.^5,6,57-58

Fig. 3. Same patient, right and left eyes, respectively. Typical presentation of acute-onset red eyes in a school-aged child. Click image to enlarge.

Influenza

The seasonal flu can produce the following ocular signs: orbital inflammatory syndrome, acute conjunctivitis, conjunctival injection, anterior chamber inflammation, uveal effusion syndrome, vitritis, vasculitis, frosted branch angiitis, macular edema, submacular hemorrhaging, exudative retinal detachment, retinopathy, peripheral retinal necrosis, choroiditis, neuroretinitis and optic neuritis. Pain and decreased vision have been reported. Visual acuity loss has also been reported as the presenting sign of simultaneous retinal and lateral geniculate body infarct. 

Influenza is unique in that a yearly vaccine is needed to reduce contraction, as the virus itself mutates frequently. However, both severity and duration of symptoms tend to be reduced in individuals who have received the vaccine.^5,59,60 

Human Coronavirus

Though they only became a household name in 2020, human coronaviruses are quite common, and often lead to fever, fatigue, rhinitis, headache, sore throat and other common cold-type symptoms. The hallmark signs of COVID-19 additionally include shortness of breath, and loss of taste or smell. 

While literature on SARS-CoV-2 continues to develop, there are several reports of COVID-19 conjunctivitis developing in individuals who test positive for SARS-CoV-2. Red eyes generally present as a typical viral conjunctivitis, with a unilateral presentation that transitions to bilateral, watery discharge, and mild to moderate redness.^61,62 Children, especially those under 10 years of age, continue to have lower reported symptomology from COVID-19, although they may be asymptomatic carriers. Those who do show symptoms can rarely develop multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). 

Most reports of this condition show high levels of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, indicating a previous infection. Associated signs and symptoms include fever in 100% of cases and bilateral conjunctival injection in 55% of cases, in addition to significant gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, hematologic and respiratory involvement; however, there is a high rate of recovery for these patients.⁶³ 

There are several theories as to why children are less impacted by the coronavirus. One suggestion relates to the spike glycoprotein, which is present on the envelope of the coronavirus and helps the virus bind to ACE2 receptors. It has been theorized that children perhaps have less (or immature) ACE2 receptors, which reduces binding of the virus.⁶⁴ Another theory is that the proteins on the spike glycoprotein are similar to those found in measles and rubella. Since children are frequently exposed to both coronaviruses and the measles/rubella proteins through routine vaccinations, their immune systems may be able to ward off the Sars-CoV-2 virus more effectively than adults who have decreased antibody titers.⁶⁴ 

Recognizing and Reducing Infectious Disease

As healthcare providers, optometrists should stay up to date on their own immunizations and encourage patients to do the same. Providers may consider keeping in place some or all of the general cleaning and sanitization protocols that have increased in the past year, to continue to prevent spread of any pathogen that may present to the office.

Clinicians should also be aware of local outbreaks of infectious disease to assist in differentiating ocular manifestations. In cases of red eyes or unusual presentations of ocular disease, it will become increasingly important to inquire about a patient’s immunization history and consider vaccine-preventable disease as a differential once common causes have been ruled out, particularly in cases that do not improve with standard treatment or that present with associated systemic findings.

Dr. McDowell is an associate professor at the Michigan College of Optometry, where she serves as Chief of the Pediatric and Binocular Vision Service, and is the Pediatric Residency Supervisor. She is also involved in the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG) and chairs the Michigan Optometric Association Children’s Vision Care Committee. Dr. Williamson is a clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and associate staff member at the Cole Eye Institute. She is a PEDIG investigator and fellow of both the American Academy of Optometry and the Contact Lens Society of America.