Optometry and infectious diseases Flashcards
What is an infectious disease?
transmitted from one to another
Diseases you ‘catch’ from a pathogen
* Pathogens incl. viruses, bacteria, prion, fungus, protozoan,
parasites etc.
* Range in severity from Asymptomatic HSV, common cold to malaria, TB, HIV, COVID-19 and Ebola
Transmission: Either person-person (infected host to
uninfected), Animal-person (zoonoses), Vector-borne
(Malaria), Intermediate host (tapeworm in pigs)
Spread by airborne, water-borne, droplet, blood, body fluid, fomites, soil, faecal-oral
What are the infectious diseases in optometry?
- Conjunctivitis
- Hordeolum
- Blepharitis
- Cellulitis
- Keratitis
- Corneal ulcer
- Trachoma
- Herpes simplex virus
- Herpes zoster
What diseases cause eye problems?
- HIV
- Measles
- Herpes simplex
- Chlamydia
What does HIV cause in the eye?
- Low immunity can cause opportunistic
eye infections - Estimated ~70% individuals with HIV will
acquire an eye condition - HIV retinopathy
- Cytomegalovirus retinitis (20-30% pxs
with AIDS) - Kaposi sarcoma
- HZO
What does measles cause in the eye?
- Highly infectious childhood disease
- Can cause death or blindness
- Conjunctivits (due to virus)
- 2ndary bacterial conjunctivitis
- Keratitis
- Xerophtahlmia
- Prevented by vaccination, Vit A
- Treated with Vit A, antibacterial drops
What does herpes simplex cause in the eye?
- Can lie dormant in system until activated
- Estimated 2/3 of population have it
- Can cause recognisable ‘dendritic’
shaped corneal ulcer - Can cause blindness if untreated
through scarring - Potential secondary glaucoma
- Treated with antiviral gel / tabs
- May use steroid to reduce inflammation
- BUT steroid alone will increase ulcer!
What does chlamydia cause in the eye?
- Bacterial infection
- Commonly sexually transmitted
- Can cause recurrent eye infection, will
usually have associated genital infection - If left untreated recurs and can cause
long term systemic problems - Prevention through safe sex
- Treatment azithromycin eye drops
What eye conditions are communicable?
- Trachoma
- Conjunctivitis
- Demodex blepharitis
What is trachoma?
- Caused by bacterial infection
- Usually affects eyelids
- Can cause irreversible blindness
through scarring from repeated infection - Disease of poverty
- Prevented through hygiene control,
water and sanitation - Treated with antibiotics eg azithromicin
What is conjunctivitis?
- Bacterial, viral, fungal, protozoal are all
infectious - Adenoviral conjunctivitis is especially
infectious - Prevention is through hygiene-
handwashing, avoiding high risk CL
wear, eye protection from injury - Treatment depends on type of
conjunctivitis
What is demodex blepharitis?
- Infestation of eyelashes with demodex
mite - Causes blepharitis
- Prevention through hygiene
- Treatment with dilute tea tree
preparation
