Ophthalmological involvement in Mpox: A literature review

Abstract Mpox is an infection caused by the Mpox virus, which is part of the Poxiviridae family along with the smallpox virus. In 2022, the report of new cases of Mpox in the United Kingdom and other nonendemic countries caught the attention of the World Health Organization, which declared the occurrence as a public health emergency of global concern. Although Mpox is classically identified by the skin rash, eyelids and ocular surface involvement is possible and not uncommon, manifesting as red eye, photophobia, edema, pruritus, and ocular pain. Most patients with ocular involvement have a good prognosis; however, more severe cases, such as those of corneal lesions, are associated with the risk of a decrease in visual acuity and blindness. This review aims to describe the main ophthalmological manifestations and the most frequent outcomes of ocular involvement in Mpox infection.