Overview
Chlamydial conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is an eye infection that usually occurs when infected genital secretions reach the eye, often through hand-to-eye spread during sexual exposure. Moreover, about 20-50% of newborns contract neonatal chlamydial conjunctivitis, which is transferred from the mother with cervical chlamydia during birth. As per a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, out of all acute conjunctivitis cases, 1.8-5.6% of infections are due to chlamydia in adults. It is a bacterial STI that is more common in young women.
What is chlamydial conjunctivitis?
It is a bacterial eye infection that causes inflammation and swelling of the eyelids and white of the eye. This membrane is called the conjunctiva, and illness or inflammation of this membrane is called conjunctivitis. However, if the agent causing conjunctivitis is chlamydia, then it is called chlamydial conjunctivitis.
Chlamydia is an STD and can affect the eyes if the semen or genital fluid of the person suffering from the infection comes in contact with the eyes. Additionally, newborns can contract ocular chlamydia infection if the mother suffers from an illness while giving birth. It can be unilateral or bilateral, meaning it typically affects one eye but can also affect both eyes.
Symptoms of Chlamydia in the Eye
If you experience the following symptoms, there is a chance it is a chlamydial infection or an eye STD. You must consult a doctor immediately to avoid the spread:
- Tearing
- Mucous or pus discharge
- Irritation
- Itching
- Pink Eye
- Photophobia
- Swelling of eyelids
- Swelling of lymph nodes that sit in front of the ears
In newborns, symptoms usually begin 5–12 days after birth. Other STD eye symptoms include swelling, pink eye, and bloody or watery chlamydia eye discharge. In some cases, a pseudomembrane develops that covers the whites of the eye. These STI symptoms take a while to appear post-delivery. However, they can occur sooner if the amniotic sac ruptures during delivery.
If the person has genital chlamydia and chlamydial conjunctivitis, which is likely in the case of adults, males, and females, they experience different symptoms.
- Females: Women experience pain while urinating, pain during sex, bleeding between periods or after sex, pelvic pain, and abnormal vaginal discharge.
- Males: In men, testicular pain, white or cloudy penile discharge, itch or burning sensation in the urethra, and pain while peeing are the common symptoms.
How do you get chlamydia in your eye?
Chlamydia is a contagious disease and can spread through sexual activity or genital fluids through hand-to-eye contact. That’s when you develop chlamydial conjunctivitis or STD pink eye. You can also contract it after contact with infected genital secretions, followed by touching your eyes. Other transmitting methods include using a washcloth or sharing false eyelashes.
How do you test for chlamydia in the eye?
Your provider diagnoses a chlamydia infection by physically examining for symptoms or running diagnostic tests. Diagnostic tests are done using a swab from your eye conjunctiva, on which bacterial presence is tested. Other tests check for STDs like syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, or HIV.
What antibiotics are used to treat chlamydia in the eye?
Chlamydia in the eye is usually treated with oral antibiotics, because the infection often affects more than just the eye. In adults, doctors commonly use Doxycycline or Azithromycin. However, treating yourself alone won’t help if your partner also suffers from this infection. Therefore, you should check for STI infections in your partner, and your doctor can prescribe a suitable antibiotic course for both you and your partner. It takes approximately 3 to 4 weeks for the antibiotics to eliminate the bacterial infection completely.
Newborn chlamydial conjunctivitis is usually treated with oral antibiotics, not just eye ointment. Topical treatment alone is not enough. CDC guidance recommends oral erythromycin base or ethylsuccinate, with close follow-up because a second course may sometimes be needed. If the infection is diagnosed early, chlamydia eye infection treatment can occur sooner. As in newborns, immunity is relatively low, and chlamydia can cause blindness if left untreated.
The following antibiotics are usually recommended for adults:
- Erythromycin: 500 mg four times daily for 7 days.
- Azithromycin: 1 g as a single dose
- Doxycycline: 100 mg twice daily for 7 days
How can I help prevent chlamydial conjunctivitis?
You can prevent chlamydial conjunctivitis by following certain practices and increasing hygienic measures:
- Avoid sharing personal care items, such as towels, pillows, washcloths, or sheets, with others. Even if one of your eyes has an infection, don’t use the same towel for both eyes.
- Frequently wash your hands, especially after intercourse, and don’t touch or rub your face or eyes with dirty hands.
- During intercourse, use latex or polyurethane condoms. Also, avoid sexual activity with multiple partners.
- Avoid sharing makeup products or eye cosmetics, especially if you or someone in your household has an infection. If you have had an eye infection, refrain from using the same makeup that you used during the infection.
- If the infection occurs during pregnancy, the mother should receive treatment before delivery to prevent the transmission of the disease to the newborn baby.
Consult a Doctor
If you had unprotected sex and see signs and symptoms of chlamydia infection, or have multiple sexual partners or a new sexual partner, consult your doctor immediately. Also, if you are pregnant and experience the symptoms of chlamydial conjunctivitis, visit your GP as soon as possible to get the appropriate treatment before the delivery of the baby.
FAQs About Chlamydia in Eye
Chlamydia in the eye occurs due to sexually transmitted chlamydia infection via hand-to-eye contact with sexual fluids or genitals. Therefore, it can spread from your partner or your genitals. Moreover, an infant can also contract chlamydia upon birth from an infected mother. Sharing personal care products with an infected person can also spread it.
The symptoms of chlamydia in the eye include watery discharge, redness, swelling, itching, and pus. These symptoms appear within 2 to 19 days of initial exposure.
