Chlamydia eyes look very similar to that of the common pink eye and causes redness, sticky mucus discharge as well as swollen eyelids.
The Chlamydia in the eye often affects just one of your eyes at first and can also last much longer than standard pink eye if it's not treated properly.
Chlamydia in the eye is also known as chlamydial conjunctivitis.
The signs and symptoms of Chlamydia in the eyes include red and pink tissues, discharge and crust, swelling, bumpy inner eyelids, extra tearing and sensitivity and swollen lymph nodes.
With chlamydia in the eyes, the white part of your eye and the inner lining of your eyelids turn bright red or pink as a result of heavy inflammation.
And thick white, yellow or mucous like discharge builds up and often seals the eyelids shut while you sleep at night.
Your eyelids also often become puffy, swollen and tender to the touch.
And small, grainy bumps or follicles can also form on the inside lining of your upper and lower eyelids.
With Chlamydia of the eyes your eyes may also water constantly and hurt when you look at bright lights also known as photophobia.
And a small, sometimes tender lymph node also often pops up right in front of your ear on the side of the eye that is infected with Chlamydia.
Chlamydia of the eye also does not clear or go away by itself and so you need to see a doctor to get treatment.
If you have any eye infection that does not clear or go away on it's own within 2 weeks you need to see a doctor for further diagnosis and treatment.
As an infection of the genital area, chlamydia may actually be asymptomatic in as high as 96% of cases, though can be associated with serious complications such as infertility.
As an infection of the eyes, it can cause a severe conjunctivitis, resulting in scarring and potential blindness.
Chlamydial eye infections (chlamydial conjunctivitis) require a combination of oral antibiotics and sometimes topical ointments to completely clear the bacteria from the body.
Standard over-the-counter pink eye drops will not cure this infection.
Recommended Medical Treatments for Chlamydial eye infections include:
Azithromycin: Taken as a single oral dose of 1,000 mg (1 gram).
Doxycycline: Taken orally as 100 mg twice a day for 7 days (avoided during pregnancy).
Erythromycin: Used for newborns or pregnant individuals via specialized oral or topical regimens.
Topical Ointments: Eye ointments like erythromycin or tetracycline may be added alongside pills to soothe local inflammation.