LYME EYE SYMPTOMS
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May 27, 2010 | By
Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that begins with a tick bite, causes many systemic problems, but may also cause eye problems. Lyme disease may only cause minor eye conditions, especially if doctors diagnose the condition early. However, if undiagnosed, knowing some of the eye problems associated with the disease may help determine if these conditions are actually symptoms of Lyme disease.
CONJUNCTIVITIS
Lyme disease may cause conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye. This infection will cause redness, irritation and eye discharge. Some types of conjunctivitis are highly contagious, but conjunctivitis from Lyme disease cannot be passed to another person, says the Ophthalmology Department at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Once diagnosed, the doctor will prescribe an eye drop that will resolve the infection.
UVEITIS
In the advanced stages, Lyme disease may cause inflammation in the uvea, the inside, middle layer of the eye. This condition is called uveitis. Symptoms include light sensitivity, redness, pain and blurry vision, says the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Doctors treat uveitis with steroid eye drops, and the symptoms will gradually ease over a few days or weeks. Treatment for Lyme disease should also begin, if it has not already, in order to prevent further episodes of inflammation.
OPTIC NEURITIS
The optic nerve sits in the back of the eye and relays visual information to the brain. Lyme disease may cause inflammation of the optic nerve, a condition called optic neuritis. This condition often causes pain, particularly with eye movement, says MayoClinic.com. Blurry vision and loss of color perception may occur. Optic neuritis may improve without treatment, but in some cases, doctors must prescribe steroids to reduce inflammation in order to reduce the risk of permanent damage to the optic nerve and vision.
BELL'S PALSY
Lyme disease may also cause a neurological condition called Bell's palsy that can affect the eye. This condition causes facial paralysis on one side of the face, which often causes the eyelid to remain open, says Penn State's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. If the condition affects the eyelid, many people with Bell's palsy experience surface irritation of the eye and excessive tearing. To ease discomfort, some people find that covering the eye or taping the eyelid closed helps keep the surface of the eye comfortable, although this creates problems with depth perception. The doctor may recommend treating the Lyme disease itself, but Bell's palsy will typically improve within a few weeks without treatment.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/133058-lyme-eye-symptoms/#ixzz2KzluZUp4
