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Overview for Dietary and Lifestyle or Treatment info
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The eyes are exposed and are
warm and moist: they are a perfect environment for microbes to grow.
Eye infections can be potentially serious, leading to loss of visual
clarity or even blindness.
Sites prone to infection:
(a) The conjunctiva (the delicate membrane stuck to the back
of the eyelid which glides over the eye surface during blinking). Conjunctivitis
is a very common infection caused by many organisms. It produces "pink-eye"
and patients complain of a gritty sensation coupled with a slimy green
discharge if the infection is bacterial and a watery discharge if it
is viral. Hence, bacterial conjunctivitis tends to result in "sticky
eye".
Two sexually transmitted diseases, gonorrhoea and chlamydia trachomatis
can be passed onto babies by infected mothers at birth. Hence neonatal
conjunctivitis should be properly investigated as these infections are
more serious. Chlamydia trachomatis is the most important eye infection
worldwide and by causing trachoma, 20 million are blinded by it in the
world today. Transmission in the developing world is by contaminated
flies, fingers and towels more than just during birth. It is associated
with poor hygeine, overcrowding and an overabundant fly population.
Direct infection of the conjunctiva and cornea are possible through
poor contact lens hygiene, or by excessive wearing reducing the eye's
natural defence mechanisms. Many organisms can multiply within contact
lens solution bottles, unchanged cleaning fluids and contaminated lenses.
(b) The cornea can be infected to produce keratitis. Viruses,
bacteria, funghi and protozoa can all cause keratitis. In the Southern
hemisphere, funghi are the commonest cause whereas bacteria are in the
Northern Hemisphere. The condition is precipitated by contact lens wearing
or injury to the eye from trauma or surgery. An abscess may well develop
and then an ulcer. Keratitis is very serious as the cornea can rupture
needing transplant or leading to blindness.
(c) The anterior chamber can be infected to produce intraocular
endophthalmitis. Again this is very serious and without prompt diagnosis
and treatment, surgical removal of the eye will be needed. It results
from surgery such as cataract removal and hence pre-operative antibiotic
eye-drops are used to destroy the natural bacteria around the eye.
(d) Orbital cellulitis is caused by blood-borne spread to the
tissues around the eye itself. There is red, painful swelling around
the eye usually caused by bacteria.
(e) If the retina and choroid are infected, retinochoroiditis
is diagnosed. Unlike the rest of the eye, the retina and choroid have
a rich blood supply that can result in blood-borne retinochoroiditis.
Parasites are a common cause, as is CMV virus in AIDS patients. Infamously
difficult to treat, retinochoroiditis can result in blindness. Toxoplasmosis
can also affect this area; an infection acquired from infected cat and
dog faeces. ..
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