Sexually transmitted infections are typically found on the genitals or mouth, but doctors are now warning the eyes could become infected as well.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea – two of the most common STDs – can lead to conjunctivitis, or pink eye, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
This causes an unpleasant infection that leads to irritation, pain, swelling, discharge, and red eyes.
STIs infect mucous membranes – thin, moist tissues found in the genital tract, urethra, throat, and eyes.
And the chlamydia or gonorrhea infection can enter the eyes through direct contact with infected body fluids during or after sex, by touching the eyes during or after sex.
A nationwide increase in STIs could be driving what eye specialists report is a rise in STI-associated eye infections.
Dr Catherine Heyman, the founding dean of High Point University’s School of Optometry in High Point, North Carolina, said that ‘optometrists have seen an increase in eye infections caused by STIs’ which ‘can be very serious and cause permanent vision loss if not treated urgently.’
The CDC has been keeping track of exploding numbers of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis for years. The latest figures showed that in 2023, five Americans caught a sexually transmitted infection every minute.
The CDC says there are signs the STI epidemic is slowing after spiking 90 percent in the last 20 years
The CDC has tracked rising cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis for years. In 2023, five Americans contracted an STI every minute
Chlamydia was the most commonly reported STI in 2023 with 1.6million cases, followed by gonorrhea with 600,000 cases.
It’s estimated that chlamydia is behind 20 percent of adult bacterial eye infections.
Another study reported that, worldwide, eye infections caused by gonorrhea in adults are rare.
In the US, about 146 cases of gonorrhea are reported per 100,000 people, but the specific rate of gonococcal conjunctivitis (GC) isn’t well studied. A recent study in Ireland found that GC occurred in 0.19 cases per 1,000 patients seeking care for eye problems, mostly affecting young adult men.
Eye infections caused by chlamydia are treated with antibiotics taken by mouth, often with a single dose of azithromycin. That single dose works by treating the body-wide infection, including the reproductive system, which may not show symptoms but can still carry the bacteria.
For those caused by gonorrhea in adults, doctors will typically administer a single dose of an injectable antibiotic followed by a single dose of azithromycin to treat a possible co-infection with chlamydia.
If the infections go untreated, they could wreak long-term damage to the eyes including severe scarring, ulcers on the cornea, vision loss, and worsened infection throughout the body with potentially life-threatening complications.
Dr Heyman warned: ‘These infections can be initially misdiagnosed and managed incorrectly because they masquerade as a less severe infection, allowing the infection to worsen before proper treatment is initiated.’
There is a risk that a doctor may see a patient and misdiagnose their STI conjunctivitis with common viral pink eye, which can resolve on its own.
And a person who experiences pink eye may not immediately associate their symptoms with an STI, especially if they have no other symptoms, raising the risk= they mistake it for a common, self-resolving issue rather than a pressing health concern.
While public health experts have been concerned over the rise in STIs, the latest CDC figures show gonorrhea cases fell for a second year in 2023, declining seven percent from 2022 to below pre-pandemic levels.
Chlamydia case rates remained stable, however.
Meanwhile, a major driver of the rise in STIs has been a surge in syphilis over the past 20 years, especially among babies who catch it from their moms, which has alarmed doctors because it can be fatal for infants.
In a small piece of good news, though, cases of syphilis rose by just one percent in 2023 after years of double-digit increases.
Gonorrhea infection gets into the eyes through direct contact with infected body fluids during or after sex, by touching the eyes during or after sex, or during birth
Chlamydia was the most commonly reported STI in 2023 with 1.6 million cases. Rates stayed relatively stable
Syphilis can be cured with antibiotics in the early stages, but the damage that’s done to the body before treatment often can’t be reversed.
Syphilis can affect the heart and blood vessels, damage organs, form growths and tumors on tissues and bones, cause brain damage, and pregnancy complications such as stillbirth and birth defects.
The infection can damage the eyes by inflaming various parts, including the conjunctiva, cornea, uvea (the inner layer), episclera (the outer layer), optic nerve, and retina.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology said: ‘Any of these can cause serious, long-lasting problems for your vision, like blurriness, pain and dryness.
‘It is often called the “Great Masquerader” because it can affect many different parts of the eye and mimic other diseases.’
Syphilis doesn’t have to enter the eyes to become a major problem for one’s vision. It spreads through the bloodstream, so even if there’s no direct contact with the eyes, the infection can affect various parts of the body, including the eyes.
Last year, five women in Michigan ranging in age from 40 to 60 contracted syphilis in their eyes.
All of them suffered from worsening vision; some experienced headaches and earaches, and others saw flashing lights. They all sought help from doctors within a week of each other.
In 2023, cases of syphilis rose by just one percent in 2023 after years of double-digit increases
Pink eye is an unpleasant infection that causes irritation, pain, swelling, discharge, and red eyes
It turned out they shared a common link – a sexual partner who had early asymptomatic syphilis.
Proper hygiene and using protection during sexual activity are vital to preventing the spread of STIs and eye infections caused by them.
The AAO recommends ‘contact[ing] your primary doctor if you are worried that you might have an STD.
‘It’s also a good idea to see an ophthalmologist if you have concerns about your eyes.’
