ACUTE HAEMORRHAGIC CONJUNCTIVITIS
It is an acute inflammation of conjunctiva characterised by multiple conjunctival haemorrhages , conjunctival hyperaemia and mild follicular hyperplasia.
Etiology.
The disease is caused by picornaviruses (enterovirus type 70) which are RNA viruses of small (pico) size.
The disease is very contagious and is transmitted by direct hand-to-eye contact.
Clinical picture.
The disease has occurred in an epidemic form in the Far East, Africa and England and hence the name 'epidemic haemorrhagic conjunctivitis (EHC)' has been suggested.
An epidemic of the disease was first recognized in Ghana in 1969 at the time when Apollo XI spacecraft was launched, hence the name 'Apollo conjunctivitis'.
Incubation period of EHC is very short (1-2 days).
� Symptoms
include pain, redness, watering, mild photophobia, transient blurring of vision and lid swelling.
� Signs
EHC are conjunctival congestion, chemosis, multiple haemorrhages in bulbar conjunctiva, mild follicular hyperplasia, lid oedema and pre-auricular lymphadenopathy.
� Corneal involvement may occur in the form of fine epithelial keratitis.
Treatment.
EHC is very infectious and poses major potential problems of cross-infection.
Therefore, prophylactic measures are very important.
No specific effective curative treatment is known.
However, broad spectrum antibiotic eye drops may be used to prevent secondary bacterial infections.
Usually the disease has a self-limiting course of 5-7 days.
OPTOMETRY-SHARP VISION
Optometrist