Chlamydial Conjunctivitis

What is chlamydial conjunctivitis?

Chlamydia are organisms similar to bacteria that cause infections. At times they affect your eyes and cause conjunctivitis, which is inflammation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the clear membrane that lines the eyelids and covers part of the surface of the eye.

How does it occur?

Chlamydial conjunctivitis is caused by a certain strain of the organism Chlamydia trachomatis. These organisms can be spread by exchange of bodily fluids.

Also, a mother who has chlamydia can give this disease to her baby at birth as the baby passes through the birth canal.

What are the symptoms?

Eye problems caused by chlamydia in adults usually develop slowly. Symptoms may include:

• watery discharge
• irritation
• redness
• occasionally sensitivity to light.

Usually there is no change in vision and no pain.

In a newborn, the symptoms may be eye redness and watery discharge that begin when the baby is 5 to 7 days old.

How is it diagnosed?

Your eye doctor will examine your eyes. You may have inflammation, bumps, or scar tissue inside your eyelid. Your doctor may send scrapings from the inside of your eyelid to a lab to identify the organism causing your symptoms.

How is it treated?

You will need two forms of antibiotics:

• one that you take in pill form to kill chlamydia in your body, AND
• one that you put in your eyes in the form of eyedrops or ointment.

Follow your doctor's instructions carefully. Your doctor may recommend that you have tests for other sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea, syphilis, or HIV (the virus that causes AIDS). Also, your sexual partner must be treated for chlamydia with antibiotics.

Treatment for a newborn is antibiotic ointment and IV antibiotics. If the chlamydia is diagnosed and treated early, the baby usually has no other problems from chlamydia. Chlamydia can cause a lung infection in newborns.

How long will the effects last?

Chlamydial conjunctivitis can be present for weeks or months and cause only mild symptoms. Usually you will get better after taking the antibiotics for 3 to 4 weeks.

How can it be prevented?

• Practice safe sex to avoid getting any sexually transmitted disease (STD).
• If you get an STD, see your doctor and follow your treatment plan carefully.
• Be sure that your partner is also treated for any STD.
• If you are pregnant and have a chlamydial infection, get treatment for it before your baby is born.