Can you get chlamydia in the eye?
What is chlamydia and how can it affect the eyes?
Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia is common in the genital area, but it can affect eyes as well.
When chlamydia affects the eye, conjunctivitis (pink eye) can occur. This condition is often referred to as chlamydial conjunctivitis. In adults, it's also known as adult inclusion conjunctivitis.
Chlamydial conjunctivitis is treatable through oral or topical antibiotics. If the condition goes untreated, however, it can lead to further complications including blindness. Infants who have contracted chlamydial conjunctivitis as they pass through the birth canal are also at risk for developing lung infections.
Symptoms
Symptoms of chlamydial conjunctivitis usually develop slowly. One or both eyes may be affected, though it typically only occurs in one.
Some of the main symptoms of chlamydial eye infections include:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Itchiness
- Pus
- Tears and watery eye discharge
- Eyelids crusting or sticking together
- Light sensitivity
Pus-like eye drainage (called mucopurulent discharge) and sticky eyelids in the morning often mean conjunctivitis is bacterial instead of viral. But chlamydial conjunctivitis is just one kind of bacterial eye infection that can cause these symptoms.
Chlamydia does not typically cause vision changes or notable pain in the affected eye. If you experience either of these in addition to other major symptoms, you may have a different kind of infection. The ideal way to determine this is through a visit to your eye doctor for an examination.
Causes
Chlamydial conjunctivitis is often transmitted sexually, when the eye comes into direct contact with an infected person’s urinary or genital fluids.
The bacteria can be spread to the eye in other various ways, including the following:
- Sharing towels or linens with an infected person
- Touching your eye with unwashed hands after having sexual contact with an infected person
- Sharing cosmetics such as mascara or false eyelashes with an infected person
- Giving birth, if the pregnant woman is infected
SEE RELATED: Eye infections: Bacterial, fungal and viral and symblepharon
Diagnosis
Chlamydial conjunctivitis is diagnosed through an eye exam. Your eye doctor will also likely take a swab of your conjunctiva and send it off to be tested in a laboratory for specific bacteria.
Your doctor may also recommend testing for additional sexually transmitted infections or diseases. This may include tests for syphilis or gonorrhea, both of which can cause infections that can spread to the eyes.
Treatment
Chlamydial conjunctivitis can be treated with oral and/or topical antibiotics, such as eye drops or ointment. Many cases clear up within a few weeks, but in order for the infection to heal completely, it is critical to take the full dose of antibiotic treatment as directed.
If you have chlamydia or chlamydial conjunctivitis, it is recommended that your sexual partner(s) also be treated to prevent further spread of the infection.
Chlamydia that is left untreated can lead to further complications for the eye. The condition may also recur in those who have had it before and require treatment again in the future.
Pain relief medicine usually isn't needed for chlamydial conjunctivitis. However, an eye doctor might recommend ways to help relieve any irritation, such as using artificial tears or a cool compress.
READ MORE: Follicular conjunctivitis
Chlamydial conjunctivitis in newborns
A pregnant woman who is infected with chlamydia can infect her newborn baby as he or she passes through the birth canal during delivery. Up to 50% of newborn babies can contract chlamydia from an infected mother during delivery.
Chlamydia is the most common bacterial cause of conjunctivitis in newborn babies under one month old (neonatal conjunctivitis).
Symptoms of chlamydial conjunctivitis in newborns may include:
- Eye swelling
- Eye redness
- Watery eye discharge
Infants typically begin experiencing these symptoms around 5 to 7 days after birth.
Chlamydial conjunctivitis in newborns is treated with IV antibiotics and antibiotic ointment. If the condition is left untreated in newborns, it can lead to further complications, such as lung infections and even blindness.
Other STIs, such as gonorrhea, can also cause eye infections in newborns. Gonococcal conjunctivitis is rarer and considered more serious. Its symptoms can be similar to chlamydial conjunctivitis, but it usually causes thicker, pus-like eye discharge.
Fortunately, when neonatal conjunctivitis is treated quickly, babies often recover well and have a favorable outlook.
Chlamydial conjunctivitis vs. trachoma
Trachoma is a severe eye infection caused by a bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis — the same bacteria that causes chlamydial conjunctivitis. Though it is more prominent in developing countries, trachoma is the leading cause of infectious blindness around the world.
Trachoma infects the inner eyelid, causing it to scar. The infected and scarred eyelid then turns inward, and eyelashes begin to brush against the cornea, causing corneal ulcers and scarring. This friction may lead to irreversible blindness.
Trachoma can be spread through:
- Contact with an infected person
- Contaminated clothing or towels
- Insects such as flies that can carry the disease
Prevention
Chlamydial conjunctivitis is generally not severe and is treatable in adults and infants when it is caught early. However, untreated chlamydial conjunctivitis can lead to serious vision problems, including blindness.
Sexual health awareness, including protected sex and proper hygiene practices, is an important part of preventing chlamydial conjunctivitis. It can help people planning a pregnancy or expecting parents to protect their newborn from chlamydia and other STIs, such as gonorrhea.
For pregnant women who have chlamydia, receiving treatment before giving birth can help prevent the newborn baby from getting an eye infection. Do not hesitate to schedule an eye exam if you suspect you or your infant has chlamydial conjunctivitis.
