Response to Comments on 'Acute Bilateral Neuroretinitis and Panuveitis in A Patient with Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Case Report'.

Purpose: to respond to comments on our case report on COVID associated neuroretititis.

Methods: We gathered up to date statistics about the prevalence and incidence of epidemic retinitis in Iran and specifically our region, north-east of Iran.

Results: Our response to Kawal et al comments includes 3 items. First, the PCR result of the vitreous specimen was positive for COVID-19. Secondly, the clinical course of the patient's illness was typically similar to our numerous COVID patients and we were in the middle of the second peak of COVID at the time. Thirdly, although other causes of epidemic retinitis such as west nile river are relatively rare in our region, we had a significant rise in the incidence of epidemic retinitis in the peak of COVID. So, the most probable cause may be COVID-19.

Conclusion: Although the ocular findings of our patient was similar to epidemic retinitis caused by other well-known organisms, we believe that based on positive vitreous sample PCR for COVID, typical clinical course of systemic illness, being in the peak of COVID pandemic with significant increase of similar patients during this period, our patient had COVID associated neuroretinitis/ epidemic retinitis.