Fear of side effects, vision problems included, is the biggest reason why some people are hesitant to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Currently, there's no evidence that any of the available COVID-19 vaccines cause widespread vision-related side effects. Three vaccines are currently being used in the United States:
Pfizer-BioNTech, now fully approved by the FDA under the brand name Comirnaty.
Moderna
Johnson & Johnson / Janssen.
According to the CDC, the vast majority of vaccine side effects are mild, and are "normal signs that your body is building protection." They do not include eye- or vision-related symptoms.
These common side effects include:
Pain, redness and/or swelling in the arm where you got the injection.
Fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever and/or nausea.
These common reactions usually go away within a few days.
Rare reactions to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine
Very rarely, a blood-clotting condition called TTS can occur in the weeks following a Johnson & Johnson vaccination. TTS is extremely unlikely and occurs in about 3 in ONE MILLION adults.
Blurry vision can be a sign of TTS, along with
The rare nerve condition Guillain-Barre syndrome has also been seen in about 8 in One Million adults vaccinated with the J&J vaccine.
Guillain-Barre syndrome can cause eye-related symptoms such as double vision and problems moving the eyes, in addition to other neurological symptoms.
If you notice any of the symptoms of TTS or Guillain Barre in the days or weeks after a J&J vaccine, get medical help right away.
Despite these uncommon reactions, the CDC has stressed that — compared to a COVID-19 infection — the benefits of the J&J vaccine FAR OUTWEIGH the RISK.