Age: 37.0
Sex: M
Vaccine: COVID19, COVID19
Symptoms: Optic ischaemic neuropathy, Optic nerve cupping, Papilloedema, Visual field defect
Clinical narrative: In Dec. of 2020 I tested positive for having COVID-19 by a nasal swab and experienced mild flu like symptoms. On April 12, 2021, I received the J&J Covid-19 Vaccine. The next day I experienced the worst headache I have ever experienced, with splitting head pain for 7+ hours. The following few days I experienced mild fatigue. On May 3rd, 2021 while at work I noticed what I thought was a floater in my right eye. Over the next few days, the floater was still present and I randomly would experience mild pressure behind my right eye. After doing my own eye tests, I quickly realized that it wasn't a floater rather I had lost vision in the lower left part of my peripheral vision in my right eye. Since it didn't limit my activities of daily living, I waited until I had my annual wellness exam on 5/25/21 with my PCP, Dr. at Health. Dr. recommended that I see an Optometrist (please note at this visit I was overdue for my Tdap vaccine and Dr. recommended that I receive this vaccine, which I did). On 6/3/21 I saw Dr., OD at  Eye Care Center. Dr.  noted that I had swelling around my optic nerve in my right eye and had hemorrhages in the back of my eye. She scheduled a follow up and ordered blood work and eventually after another follow up, an MRI of my head and eye. Everything checked out okay and it was at this point that Dr. believed I had, ?Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy?. She referred me to see a Neuro-Opthamologist at Health Center. On 7/29/21 I saw Dr., MD and after his examination he believed I did have?Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy?. It was his opinion that this was an uncommon condition for someone my age but that I do have risk factors, including a small optic cup, and a history of obstructive sleep apnea (which I am compliant in CPAP therapy since being diagnosed). I was also recently found to have hyperlipidemia with a high LDL cholesterol level (137 on 6/4/21) and also have prediabetes with a slightly elevated hemoglobin A1c (5.8 on 5/25/21). When asked if this could have been a result of receiving the J&J vaccine less than 30 days prior to experiencing my vision loss, he didn?t feel that there was a correlation however that everything about this vaccine is new.  When asked if I should report this event, he stated he did not think there was a relation but he supported my preference to do so.  I am only reporting this not because I absolutely believe the vaccine caused this problem in my eye, but I do have some concerns that it may have contributed to this. I can?t stress enough how horrendous the headache was the next day after receiving the vaccine and with already having covid antibodies in my system at vaccine time, I am concerned about the possibility of this happening to my eye due to the vaccine.  I have no prior history of eye diseases or problems (minus an occasional sty) and have no family history of eye problems either. I am only reporting this in hopes that IF there could be a possible safety concern that I can be part of the solution to making sure these vaccines are safe for everyone going forward.