Kaur M, Arora J, Naseem M, Singh A, Kumar V, Sohal A. Ocular complications after liver transplantation: A comprehensive review of infectious and non-infectious etiologies. World J Transplant 2026; 16(1): 111869 [DOI: 10.5500/wjt.v16.i1.111869]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Aalam Sohal, MD, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Creighton University School of Medicine, 3216 NE 45th Pl Suite 212, Phoenix, AZ 85012, United States. aalamsohal@gmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Mar 18, 2026 (publication date) through Jan 14, 2026
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Journal Information of This Article
Publication Name
World Journal of Transplantation
ISSN
2220-3230
Publisher of This Article
Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Kaur M, Arora J, Naseem M, Singh A, Kumar V, Sohal A. Ocular complications after liver transplantation: A comprehensive review of infectious and non-infectious etiologies. World J Transplant 2026; 16(1): 111869 [DOI: 10.5500/wjt.v16.i1.111869]
Mannat Kaur, Department of Ophthalmogy, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, FL 33136, United States
Jasmine Arora, Department of Medicine, Government Medical College Amritsar, Amritsar 143001, Punjab, India
Mohammad Naseem, Department of Internal Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi 110002, Delhi, India
Anmol Singh, Department of Medicine, Tristar Centennial Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37203, United States
Vikash Kumar, Aalam Sohal, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ 85012, United States
Author contributions: Kaur M, Sohal A, Singh A conceptualized and designed the study. Kaur M, Arora J, Naseem M conducted the literature review, created the artwork, interpreted data and drafted the original manuscript. Sohal A, Kumar V, Singh A supervised the study and made critical revisions.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to disclose.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Aalam Sohal, MD, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Creighton University School of Medicine, 3216 NE 45th Pl Suite 212, Phoenix, AZ 85012, United States. aalamsohal@gmail.com
Received: July 11, 2025 Revised: July 30, 2025 Accepted: November 4, 2025 Published online: March 18, 2026 Processing time: 187 Days and 15.8 Hours
Abstract
Liver transplantation is a life-saving procedure for patients with end-stage liver diseases and acute liver failure. With advances in surgical techniques and immunosuppressive regimens, patient survival rates have significantly improved. While the systemic complications of post-transplantation are well recognized, ophthalmic manifestations remain underreported. Ophthalmic complications can significantly impair visual function and increase morbidity in these patients. Prolonged immunosuppression makes the patients susceptible to the opportunistic pathogens such as Cytomegalovirus, Candida, Aspergillus, etc. Other common findings include dry eye disease, cataracts and retinal vascular complications which further contribute to the long-term morbidity in these patients. Early ophthalmic evaluation and prompt management are essential to prevent irreversible vision loss and improve post-transplant outcomes. High index of suspicion and multidisciplinary approach is essential to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment. This review highlights the range of ophthalmic complications observed in liver transplant recipients and underscores the need for future research focused on understanding the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and refining the prophylactic protocols to improve outcomes in this unique patient population.
Core Tip: Liver transplant recipients are at risk of various ophthalmic complications, both infectious and non-infectious due to immunosuppression and drug toxicity. Infectious complications from pathogens like cytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex virus, Candida and Aspergillus require prompt diagnosis and treatment to preserve vision. Non-infectious manifestations include retinal vascular changes, cataracts, dry eye disease and neoplasms like post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders. Early recognition, vigilant monitoring and management are essential to improve patient outcomes in this population.
