New study links COVID-19 vaccine to potential eye damage
Researchers in Turkey studied 64 participants who received both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and discovered measurable changes to the cornea's innermost layer, known as the endothelium. This thin cell layer is vital for keeping the cornea clear by pumping out excess fluid. The study was published Wednesday in the journal Ophthalmic Epidemiology.
The scientists observed that, within two months of vaccination, participants showed a slight thickening of the cornea, a decrease in endothelial cell count, and greater variability in the size of these cells — all potential signs of short-term stress on the eye.
'These changes suggest the vaccine may temporarily weaken the endothelium, though none of the participants experienced vision problems during the study,' the researchers noted.
The average corneal thickness increased from 528 to 542 micrometers — about a 2% change. Meanwhile, endothelial cell density dropped from an average of 2,597 to 2,378 cells per square millimeter — an 8% decrease. While this remains within normal limits for healthy adults, the decline could pose a risk for people with already low cell counts, such as those with prior eye surgeries, infections, or conditions like Fuchs' dystrophy.
The study also found a drop in the proportion of endothelial cells with a healthy hexagonal shape, from 50% to 48%, and an increase in the coefficient of variation in cell size from 39 to 42 — further indicators of stress or damage.
'These changes are subtle and may not cause immediate harm, but they warrant monitoring, especially in individuals with compromised corneal health,' the authors stated.
The research team did not recommend against COVID-19 vaccination but emphasized the need for further long-term studies to determine whether the observed changes persist or worsen over time.
'If these effects on the endothelium continue for years, they could contribute to eye diseases such as corneal edema, bullous keratopathy, or corneal decompensation — all of which can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated,' the study warned.
Specialists recommend that people with eye discomfort or blurry vision consult an ophthalmologist. A non-invasive test using a specular microscope can determine endothelial cell health.
The study adds to a growing list of side-effect concerns linked to COVID-19 vaccines. In May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded its warning labels on Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to include risks of myocarditis and pericarditis — types of heart inflammation — particularly in males aged 16 to 25.
Despite these concerns, health authorities maintain that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination continue to outweigh the risks for the majority of the population.
The Turkish study involved 128 eyes (64 participants), with each subject undergoing full ophthalmic examinations before receiving their first vaccine dose and approximately 75 days after their second. Researchers used high-precision tools — including Sirius corneal topography and the Tomey EM-4000 specular microscope — to assess corneal thickness and endothelial cell characteristics.
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Arab Times
20 hours ago
- Arab Times
New study links COVID-19 vaccine to potential eye damage
NEW YORK, July 19: A new scientific study has found that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine may cause temporary changes in the eyes' corneal structure, raising concerns about long-term vision health, particularly for individuals with pre-existing eye conditions. Researchers in Turkey studied 64 participants who received both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and discovered measurable changes to the cornea's innermost layer, known as the endothelium. This thin cell layer is vital for keeping the cornea clear by pumping out excess fluid. The study was published Wednesday in the journal Ophthalmic Epidemiology. The scientists observed that, within two months of vaccination, participants showed a slight thickening of the cornea, a decrease in endothelial cell count, and greater variability in the size of these cells — all potential signs of short-term stress on the eye. 'These changes suggest the vaccine may temporarily weaken the endothelium, though none of the participants experienced vision problems during the study,' the researchers noted. The average corneal thickness increased from 528 to 542 micrometers — about a 2% change. Meanwhile, endothelial cell density dropped from an average of 2,597 to 2,378 cells per square millimeter — an 8% decrease. While this remains within normal limits for healthy adults, the decline could pose a risk for people with already low cell counts, such as those with prior eye surgeries, infections, or conditions like Fuchs' dystrophy. The study also found a drop in the proportion of endothelial cells with a healthy hexagonal shape, from 50% to 48%, and an increase in the coefficient of variation in cell size from 39 to 42 — further indicators of stress or damage. 'These changes are subtle and may not cause immediate harm, but they warrant monitoring, especially in individuals with compromised corneal health,' the authors stated. The research team did not recommend against COVID-19 vaccination but emphasized the need for further long-term studies to determine whether the observed changes persist or worsen over time. 'If these effects on the endothelium continue for years, they could contribute to eye diseases such as corneal edema, bullous keratopathy, or corneal decompensation — all of which can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated,' the study warned. Specialists recommend that people with eye discomfort or blurry vision consult an ophthalmologist. A non-invasive test using a specular microscope can determine endothelial cell health. The study adds to a growing list of side-effect concerns linked to COVID-19 vaccines. In May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded its warning labels on Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to include risks of myocarditis and pericarditis — types of heart inflammation — particularly in males aged 16 to 25. Despite these concerns, health authorities maintain that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination continue to outweigh the risks for the majority of the population. The Turkish study involved 128 eyes (64 participants), with each subject undergoing full ophthalmic examinations before receiving their first vaccine dose and approximately 75 days after their second. Researchers used high-precision tools — including Sirius corneal topography and the Tomey EM-4000 specular microscope — to assess corneal thickness and endothelial cell characteristics.
Kuwait Times
09-07-2025
- Kuwait Times
Egyptian conservators give King Tut's treasures new glow
As a teenager, Eid Mertah would pore over books about King Tutankhamun, tracing hieroglyphs and dreaming of holding the boy pharaoh's golden mask in his hands. Years later, the Egyptian conservator found himself gently brushing centuries-old dust off one of Tut's gilded ceremonial shrines -- a piece he had only seen in textbooks. 'I studied archaeology because of Tut,' Mertah, 36, told AFP. 'It was my dream to work on his treasures -- and that dream came true.' Mertah is one of more than 150 conservators and 100 archaeologists who have labored quietly for over a decade to restore thousands of artefacts ahead of the long-awaited opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) -- a $1 billion project on the edge of the Giza Plateau. Originally slated for July 3, the launch has once again been postponed -- now expected in the final months of the year -- due to regional security concerns. The museum's opening has faced delays over the years for various reasons, ranging from political upheaval to the Covid-19 pandemic. But when it finally opens, the GEM will be the world's largest archaeological museum devoted to a single civilization. It will house more than 100,000 artefacts, with over half on public display, and will include a unique feature: a live conservation lab. From behind glass walls, visitors will be able to watch in real time as experts work over the next three years to restore a 4,500-year-old boat buried near the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu and intended to ferry his soul across the sky with the sun god Ra. But the star of the museum remains King Tut's collection of more than 5,000 objects -- many to be displayed together for the first time. Among them are his golden funeral mask, gilded coffins, golden amulets, beaded collars, ceremonial chariots and two mummified foetuses believed to be his stillborn daughters. Visitors walk through the entrance of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza. Visitors walk next the 3,200-year-old pink-granite colossal statue of King Ramses II at the entrance of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). Visitors tour the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza on the southwestern outskirts of the capital Cairo. A visitor films a column capital depicting the ancient Egyptian goddess Hathor while touring the grand staircase at the Grand Egyptian Museum. An aerial view of (bottom-left) the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) and (top-left) the under-construction Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM),expected to be inaugurated later in the year, on the outskirts of Giza. Tourists view the solid gold sarcophagus of the Ancient Egyptian New Kingdom Pharaoh Tutankhamun (1342-1325 BC), at the pharaoh's dedicated gallery in the Egyptian Museum. Egyptian archeologists, wearing personal protective equipment, performs restorations on the golden sarcophagus of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun (reigned between 1342-1325 BC) at the restoration lab of the newly-built Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza. An Egyptian archeologist, wearing personal protective equipment, performs restorations on the golden sarcophagus of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun (reigned between 1342-1325 BC) at the restoration lab of the newly-built Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza on the southwestern outskirts of the capital Cairo on April 13, 2020. --AFP photos 'Puzzle of gold' Many of these treasures have not undergone restoration since British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered them in 1922. The conservation methods used by Carter's team were intended to protect the objects, but over a century later, they have posed challenges for their modern-day successors. Coating gold surfaces in wax, for instance, 'preserved the objects at the time', said conservator Hind Bayoumi, 'but it then hid the very details we want the world to see'. For months, Bayoumi, 39, and her colleagues painstakingly removed the wax applied by British chemist Alfred Lucas, which had over decades trapped dirt and dulled the shine of the gold. Restoration has been a joint effort between Egypt and Japan, which contributed $800 million in loans and provided technical support. Egyptian conservators -- many trained by Japanese experts -- have led cutting-edge work across 19 laboratories covering wood, metal, papyrus, textiles and more. Tut's gilded coffin -- brought from his tomb in Luxor -- proved one of the most intricate jobs. At the GEM's wood lab, conservator Fatma Magdy, 34, used magnifying lenses and archival photos to reassemble its delicate gold sheets. 'It was like solving a giant puzzle,' she said. 'The shape of the break, the flow of the hieroglyphs -- every detail mattered.' Touching history Before restoration, the Tutankhamun collection was retrieved from several museums and storage sites, including the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, the Luxor Museum and the tomb itself. Some items were given light restoration before their relocation to ensure they could be safely moved. Teams first conducted photographic documentation, X-ray analysis and material testing to understand each item's condition before touching it. 'We had to understand the condition of each piece -- the gold layers, the adhesives, wood structure -- everything,' said Mertah, who worked on King Tut's ceremonial shrines at the Egyptian Museum. Fragile pieces were stabilized with Japanese tissue paper -- thin but strong -- and adhesives like Paraloid B-72 and Klucel G, both reversible and minimally invasive. The team's guiding philosophy throughout has been one of restraint. 'The goal is always to do the least amount necessary -- and to respect the object's history,' said Mohamed Moustafa, 36, another senior restorer. Beyond the restoration work, the process has been an emotional journey for many of those involved. 'I think we're more excited to see the museum than tourists are,' Moustafa said. 'When visitors walk through the museum, they'll see the beauty of these artefacts. But for us, every piece is a reminder of the endless working hours, the debates, the trainings.' 'Every piece tells a story.'--AFP
Arab Times
23-06-2025
- Arab Times
In stressful times, our anxiety can rub off on pets - here's how to help
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If we stay calm and quiet, they do too,' Peters says. Peters attributes much of the rise in pet anxiety to the social upheaval of the COVID years. Many animals who were acquired during the pandemic had limited opportunities to socialize with other people and pets during their peak developmental stages. After COVID, pets who were used to having their family at home experienced separation anxiety as their owners returned to work and school. "A lot of pet anxiety comes from changes to their households,' Peters says. "It can also occur from a lack of routine and structure and not enough physical activity.' Other components that could contribute to our pets' anxiety include unmet needs, past trauma and insufficient open spaces. "We are asking our dogs to live in a world that isn't made for them,' she says. Low-level stress responses in dogs, such as eating less and excessive self-grooming, are forms of communication that precede lunging and barking, Jackson says. Trying to solve reactive behaviors through obedience training without addressing the root cause can make dogs' anxiety worse. "It's important to understand what the dogs are saying and why they're behaving the way they are. Manners and life skills are important, but it won't create happy dogs,' Jackson says. Anxiety in cats can be harder to spot, according to Jackson, because they're hard-wired to hide it. While dogs seek out their support people, cats don't feel safe expressing their vulnerability. Urinating in the house, scratching, hiding under the bed and overgrooming can be signs that your kitty is anxious. If your animal companion is suddenly acting out or on a licking binge, Jackson advises seeing a veterinarian to rule out a medical cause, such as pain or allergies. Veterinarians can also prescribe anti-anxiety medication and complementary treatments to promote sleep and relaxation. Peters recommends supplements for her canine clients including probiotics and the amino acids l-theanine and tryptophan (yes, the turkey coma one). For cats, she suggests using a product like Feliway that diffuses calming pheromones into the air. A dog's breed might also play a part in developing anxiety. Peters says that while every dog is different, the more active herding and working breeds like shepherds and border collies can become anxious and destructive without an outlet for their energy. "Herding breeds need space to run and jobs to do,' she says. When Tacoma, Washington, resident Shelani Vanniasinkam got her Australian shepherd puppy, Roo, she didn't know about the breed's reputation for anxiety. Her previous dog had been an easygoing husky who enjoyed pats from strangers and visits to the dog park. She quickly realized Roo was not that type of dog. "He had a lot more needs than we anticipated,' Vanniasinkam says. "We couldn't leave him alone for more than 30 minutes.' Vanniasinkam and her husband, Jesus Celaya, reached out to a local pet behavioralist, but it became clear that Roo's anxiety was so acute he needed medication before he could start behavior training. Medication can be important in behavioral treatment, but it shouldn't be the only approach, says Peters. She usually suggests that her clients try training and routine modification first, unless their pet is causing harm to themselves or others. "If I'm going to use meds, it's part of a greater process,' Peters says. Roo's veterinarian put him on Fluoxetine, or "doggie Prozac,' an antidepressant commonly given to anxious pets. He also prescribed Trazodone, another antidepressant, for particularly stressful events, such as trips to the vet or a night of fireworks. After starting his medication, Roo received eight months of behavior training, during which Vanniasinkam and her husband not only changed their own approach to dog parenting but also set boundaries with friends and family. They limited Roo's interaction with other dogs, asked people to stop using their doorbell and requested that others ignore Roo when he barks. Now, when they want to take Roo for off-leash play, they book time at a local Sniffspot, which Vanniasinkam describes as "an Airbnb for anxious and reactive dogs.' The company, which launched in 2016, allows homeowners to rent out their yards or property by the hour for solo, off-leash play or doggie playdates. "It's sad when you can't take your dog to a dog park,' Vanniasinkam says. "So, this option is really nice.' She says that while it was initially difficult to navigate Roo's anxiety, he is loving, family-oriented and worth the effort. "It's hard having an anxious dog, but you can figure it out,' she says. "It's just important to understand your dog, so you're set up for success.'
