We are seeing a number of people in some clinics with red eyes with discomfort and a sudden
increase in number of people wearing protective glasses. This week I am excited to introduce
Dr. Nana Kofi Osei who has been doing a terrific job of helping people manage these conditions
as well as teaching groups of people how to reduce one’s risk or prevent infection.
….and he write;
Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) is a severe form of viral pink eye that could cause eyelid
swelling, eye discharge, and bleeding. There’s no cure, but treatments can help you manage the
symptoms until the virus clears.
How is it transmitted?
Conjunctivitis is highly contagious.
AHC is usually transmitted through hand-to-eye contact, meaning you touch an infected surface
or object and then touch your eye. You can also contract the infection by using an object that
carries the virus on your eyes, such as a towel or makeup tool.
The infection can also be spread to others through close contact, such as a handshake, hug, or
kiss. Coughing and sneezing can also spread the infection.
You’re at increased risk for pink eye if you wear contact lenses, especially if they’re extended-
wear lenses. That’s because bacteria can live and grow on the lenses.
Additionally, adenoviruses can spread through infected particles in the air that can land on or
around your eyes.
What are the symptoms of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis?
Symptoms of AHC usually come on suddenly.
Common symptoms of AHC include:
- a feeling that something is in your eye
- watery eyes
- swollen eyelids
- fluid-filled, blister-like growths on top of the eye surface (chemosis)
- bleeding from blood vessels below the eye surface (sub conjunctival hemorrhage)
- blurring of vision or difficulty seeing
- sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- fever
The earliest symptoms of AHC may be mild. But symptoms such as chemosis and hemorrhaging
can become very painful and cause your eye to look bloodshot or completely red as blood leaks
into the tissues under the eye’s surface.
How long does acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis last?
Most cases of AHC last 5 to 7 days before symptoms start to go away.
However, the virus can still be contagious even after your symptoms subside.
What is the treatment for acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis?
There’s no cure for AHC, so most treatments aim to relieve the symptoms while the infection
runs its course. Treatment options include:
- cold compresses to relieve pain and swelling
- eye drops to help lubricate the eye and promote tears that can help reduce the
concentration of infectious material - medications to reduce pain, such as ibuprofen
A doctor may warn against using any over-the-counter or prescription treatments, such as
topical corticosteroids, that otherwise might be used to treat pink eye. This is because steroids
can cause superinfections to develop on the eye’s surface, which need separate treatment with
antibiotics or antifungal medications.
How can I prevent acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis?
Here are some tips to help prevent yourself from getting AHC and spreading it to others if you
have an active infection:
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Try not to touch or rub your eyes unless you’ve washed your hands.
- Don’t share towels, makeup tools, exercise equipment, or other commonly shared
objects with someone who has an infection or if you have an infection. - Throw away any mascara or eyeliner that may be contaminated.
- Avoid swimming in public pools or using shared hot tubs or steam rooms, where
infectious particles can easily spread. - Clean your glasses regularly to avoid transferring infectious material from your eyes to
your glasses. - Don’t wear contact lenses while you have an infection.
- Avoid reusing contact lenses. Consider switching to single-use lenses if you don’t already
use them. - Once your infection has gone away, wash all bedding that you came into contact with
while you had the infection.
AHC is a form of viral conjunctivitis that can cause more severe pain and redness than most
other forms of pink eye. Symptoms come on quickly but typically go away on their own within a
week.
Most cases of AHC go away without any treatment, but you should visit an eye doctor or
primary care specialist if you have a fever or experience pain that disrupts your life.
Written / Compiled by;
Dr. Nana Kofi Osei
Health Essentials Limited
(BSC Biochemistry, MBChB, GMC certified)
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER
IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood
cholesterol, BMI)
Thought for the week – “If you plan to live to a ripe old age, make those golden years healthy
ones and not bedridden years.”
