This is just swell.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) — which affect one in five Americans — are most commonly found on the genitals, anus and mouth. Now, a professional medical association is warning that another part of the body can become itchy, irritated, crusty and leaky from an STI.
“When gonorrhea infects the eyes, it can cause a form of pink eye with a large amount of pus discharged from the eyes,” the American Academy of Ophthalmology recently shared.
Like the genitals and mouth, eyes contain mucous membranes that can be easily invaded by STIs.
Bacteria from gonorrhea and chlamydia can infect the eyes through direct contact with semen or vaginal discharge from an infected person — or a person rubs their eyes after touching infected genital areas.
Either move can cause conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye.
Symptoms of pink eye include redness, itchiness, swelling, a gritty sensation, tearing, blurred vision and discharge that forms a crust overnight, making it difficult to open your eyes in the morning.
Pink eye is most commonly caused by an adenovirus, a respiratory virus that typically brings cold-like symptoms.
Bacteria, allergens and irritants like chlorine in swimming pools can also cause pink eye.
Another STI eye infection is ocular syphilis, which develops when the Treponema pallidum bacterium enters the body, usually through sexual contact.
A small cluster of these cases was identified last year in Michigan — the five women shared a male partner.
Ocular syphilis is typically treated with penicillin, while most cases of pink eye go away on their own.
In severe cases, untreated STI eye infections can lead to corneal scarring, inflammation, impaired vision and even permanent vision loss.
See a doctor if you experience pain, sensitivity to light, changes in your vision or very red eyes.
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