STIs: NHS gives advice on symptoms and prevention
Eye pain and redness is usually one of the initial first signs, warned Abbas Kanani, a pharmacist at Chemist Click Online Pharmacy.
He continued: “However, because this is common and can be down to a number of different reasons, it can be easily overlooked.”
Ocular syphilis
Anybody presenting with floating spots in their vision, sensitivity to light, and blurred vision should consult an eye expert, such as an ophthalmologist.
These symptoms could be indicative of ocular syphilis, Kanani cautioned.
While rare, left untreated, ocular syphilis could lead to permanent blindness.
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“Irritation, pain, swelling and discharge, which usually affects one eye only, could be signs of chlamydia in the eye,” added Kanani.
He elaborated: “It occurs when chlamydia trachomatis (the bacteria that causes the infection), makes direct contact with the mucous membrane (the wet part of the eye).
“It is also known as chlamydia conjunctivitis, or ocular chlamydia. Symptoms of early-stage chlamydia eye infections can be slow to develop.”
Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs and is spread through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex.
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The STI can also be spread by sharing sex toys that have not been washed, genitals that come into contact with a partner’s genitals, or infected semen or vaginal fluid.
Kanani said: “Chlamydia in the eye is contagious. It is easily spread through genital fluid to eye contact, or even eye-to-eye contact.”
Doxycycline, a type of antibiotic, is the first line of treatment for this condition.
“It is important to finish any course of antibiotics that you are prescribed, to ensure the infection is completely treated,” said Kanani.
Most ocular chlamydia infections would take a few weeks to clear, Kanani added.
Then there’s gonorrhoea to consider, which can lead to light sensitivity and pus-like discharge from one or both eyes.
Caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Kanani explained: “Both men and women can develop an infection, not only in the eyes, but also in the rectum or throat by having unprotected anal or oral sex.”
Kanani urges everybody to monitor their eye health and to report any unusual symptoms to an eye specialist.
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