New study shows Ebola survivors may be at risk of severe vision loss

Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)May 5 2016

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, Wash.

Findings show that about one in five Ebola survivors develop uveitis several weeks after being discharged from treatment centers, with a 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.