Most common manifestation of ocular chlamydial infection in sexually active young adults.
Clinical Features
Symptoms: acute or subacute in onset and include ocular irritation, foreign body sensation, watering, mucopurulent discharge and sticking of the lids
Signs:
Often appears as unilateral disease
Usually presents with red eye, swollen lids or chemosis
May have palpable uni- or bilateral pre-auricular nodes
Follicles tend to occur in the inferior fornix (predilection area), however a mixed follicular and papillary response may also develops in the superior tarsal conjunctiva
Corneal involvement:
Subepithelial infiltrates
Mild superficial keratitis
History of sexual activity and previous sexually transmitted disease is important
May be complicated with corneal neovascularization and/or conjunctival scaring
Conjunctival follicles or corneal infiltrates may persist for months
Management
Combined topical and systemic antibiotics are necessary
Systemic antibiotics include doxycycline or tetracycline (contraindicated in pregnant women) or azythromycin in adult patients
Sexual contact should also be treated with full course of therapy