How can measles affect your eyesight?
Vision-related effects of measles vary from case to case. They can range from common, harmless symptoms to rare, sight-threatening damage. The timeliness of treatment and the child's pre-existing health contribute most to how severe or mild measles’ effects are on the eyes.
Here are six possible ways that measles can affect your vision:
1. Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is a common infection also known as pink eye. It's characterized by:
Nearly all measles patients have conjunctivitis symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Runny nose, fever and other cold symptoms may also be present.
Symptoms typically resolve on their own as measles progresses. But medicated eye drops can help make the eyes more comfortable. Applying a cold, wet washcloth can also clear the eye of discharge and ease irritation.
SEE RELATED: Types of pink eye: Bacterial, viral and allergic conjunctivitis
2. Optic neuritis
Optic neuritis is a rare complication of measles that targets the optic nerve. The optic nerve sends visual information produced by the retina to the brain. The brain then processes the visual information to create an image.
When the optic nerve gets inflamed, it can cause eye pain and loss of color vision. Temporary blindness is also possible. Intravenous (IV) steroids are usually used to treat optic neuritis. However, they don’t necessarily improve the chances of full sight being restored.
Minor cases of optic neuritis usually improve and resolve on their own without medication. Vision may return gradually over a few weeks or months. But there are instances where full eyesight is never regained.
3. Keratitis
Keratitis describes the inflammation of the cornea. The cornea is the clear front surface of the eyeball that allows light into the eye for vision. Keratitis is often caused by an infection and results in uncomfortable symptoms, like:
- Grittiness
- Eye pain
- Tearing
- Blurred vision
- Light sensitivity
Eye doctors often treat keratitis with medicated eye drops, including steroid drops. But if not treated quickly, keratitis can worsen and cause vision loss. The infection can also spread and create problems in other parts of the eye.
SEE RELATED: Superficial punctate keratitis: Symptoms, causes and treatment
4. Corneal scarring
Corneal scarring occurs when a scrape, cut, burn or other injury affects the cornea. In measles cases, corneal scarring results from a corneal ulcer or keratitis.
When keratitis is severe or left untreated, scar tissue can develop on the cornea. If the scar tissue becomes dense and covers enough of the cornea, vision loss can result.
Corneal transplants are possible to replace scarred corneal tissue and restore clear vision. But preventing corneal scarring with proper keratitis treatment is easier and less expensive. Protect your vision and prevent corneal scarring by treating keratitis at its earliest stage.
5. Retinopathy
Although uncommon, it’s possible for the measles virus to damage the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye). The term for this damage is retinopathy — specifically, measles retinopathy or rubeola retinopathy.
It can lead to vision loss, which may be temporary or even permanent. In some rare situations, retinopathy emerged several years after the initial measles infection.
6. Blindness
Blindness is often a complication of problems experienced by children in underdeveloped countries. Contributing factors to measles-related blindness in children include:
- Not being vaccinated against the measles virus
- Malnourishment
- Lack of available health care
- Diets with little to no vitamin A
Administering vitamin A treatment in the early stages of measles can help minimize complications. This may ultimately save a child's sight.
Vision loss is often the final result of eye complications related to measles. But the other factors mentioned above contribute heavily to this result. Blindness is very unlikely for children who receive early medical treatment for their symptoms. Additionally, children who receive the measles vaccine are protected against the virus and its complications.
Whether you suspect measles or not, take your child to an eye doctor if they show pink eye symptoms. An eye doctor can determine the best treatment plan to keep your child's eyes comfortable and their eyesight clear.
READ MORE: Eye problems that could be related to COVID
