A Rare Side Effect of COVID-19 Vaccination: Abducens Nerve Palsy

Abstract

Sixth cranial nerve palsy is the most common ocular motor palsy [1]. In the elderly population, these palsies are commonly caused by microvascular disease or compressive tumors [2]. Immunization-related cranial nerve palsies have been reported previously in the literature [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8]. After exclusion of organic lesions, which cause acute abducens palsy in adults, immunization should be considered for the diagnosis. COVID-19 immunization-related oculomotor palsies are not well known, as only one case of abducens nerve palsy after immunization has been reported [9]. After exclusion of possible causative factors for acute abducens palsy in adults with neuroimaging, immunization should be considered for the diagnosis. Received: 26 June 2021 Accepted: 25 March 2022 Publication Date: 18 May 2022 (online) © 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany