Ebola May Lead to Blindness in Survivors According to New Findings

A new study has shown that Ebola survivors may be at risk of severe vision loss or blindness weeks after being declared virus-free. The research is being presented at the 2016 annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) this week in Seattle.

Findings show that about 1 in 5 Ebola survivors develop uveitis several weeks after being discharged from treatment centers, with one-third of those patients developing severe vision impairment or blindness. The results highlight the urgent need for eye care specialists and resources in the Ebola-survivor population.

Uveitis is the general term describing inflammatory diseases that produce swelling and can destroy eye tissues.

Source: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)