Misleading citations and publication bias in COVID‐19 in ophthalmology

In this letter, we address how misrepresentation of scientific findings can lead to an overestimation of a medical issue, a phenomenon exacerbated when the scientific community is eager for information on a novel pathogen. As an example, we present what occurred in a study we conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak on 46 patients with severe pneumonia. Our findings showed no retinal changes attributable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, 41.7% of articles citing our work over the past two years misrepresented our findings to support claims of COVID-19-related retinal involvement. We highlight the fallacy of inferring causation from coincidental occurrences, particularly during a pandemic when widespread infection increases the likelihood of unrelated conditions appearing together. With no definitive evidence linking SARS-CoV-2 to retinal pathology after four years, we stress the importance of publishing negative results and ensuring citation accuracy to uphold scientific integrity.